Miles behind the UK!

Praetorian

Source: http://www.adslguide.org.uk/

Telewest has announced its intention to trial a 2Mbps product on its cable modem service. Telewest will be looking for around 1500 users for the trials, so there is likely to be a large rush for places.

Interestingly the move appears to be aimed at digging away at BTs market, Gavin Patterson, MD of Telewest Broadband has gone on the record as saying "Not every internet user will want a 2Mb connection, but we're now well on the way to offering a menu of broadband services to suit different requirements, while BT perseveres with its one trick pony."

It would be interesting to know what BTs one trick pony is, because while BT Openworld and BT Retail are not offering a 1Mbps consumer service, ISPs like Internet Central and Nildram are offering 1Mbps and 2Mbps services partially using BT Wholesale services, and at prices as good as Telewest are likely to manage. The BT Wholesale platform with the BT Datastream products which can run at 0.5Mbps,1Mbps and 2Mbps when combined with In Span Handover techniques offers Service Providers access to all 1100+ BT ADSL exchanges and the ability to vary QoS and contention. Though cynically one could say that UK Broadband providers who are not using BT Wholesale services are trying to continue the perception that only BT owned service providers supply the service. ADSL as delivered in the UK by BT Wholesale is certainly not a one trick pony, it may not be a fast moving cheetah, but with steady pressure it does respond.

One thing that is certain is that the next year is going to see a change in the market place, with various providers aiming products at the premium home user who wants high speed services. At the end of the day most consumers will not care which technology is used, but will be looking at the overall package and the bottom line will remain the price.

Good luck to Telewest, lets hope the extra revenue will more than cover the costs and potentially allow coverage of their networks to expand inside their existing franchise areas.

Hannibal_12

Just a cursory look over these boards will show anyone exactly where we stand with relation to the UK. They may be the closest country to use geographically but that is most certainly where the similarity ends.
It may not even be so bad if it was only them but the fact that so many European (and former Soviet + other, almost third world ) countries are racing ahead........well its been said numerous times before, no need to repeat it; anyone that doesn’t realise it now is either stupid or doesn’t want to acknowledge reality.

Praetorian

Generally things need to be repeated...we are only human and we tend to forget

My point was that we are falling further behind. This is relatively new information and hasn't been specifically mentioned before...Unless I missed a thread which is unlikely!

Hannibal_12

I apologise if I came across as ungrateful for the info, its always good to see how the other side lives.
This type of information should be continually posted in the hope that someone who sees it (ESAT, €ircon, Cumrag®, Press) may do something about it.