BT offers twice its current internet speed in 2011
Every internet service company seems to be offering faster speed, but BT is way ahead with its plan to provide 24Mb by year 2011. This will mean almost doubling its current ADSL+2 service reach to over 75% of homes and businesses in the United Kingdom.
This recent announcement from BT was most welcome considering it will make the download time of music just a few seconds, and TV programs just a few minutes. The company currently provides 8Mb speed to most of its subscribers, with variations in certain regions due to phone exchange line and proximity.
Having the BT ADSL+2 in any telephone exchange will mean that more people could avail of faster connections, and at the same time increase speeds in slow lines.
On the other hand, BT is also undertaking building of an ultimate-speed broadband network using fiber optic technology projected to serve up to 40Mb per second. This service is aimed to be operational in 2012 and serve over 40% of households.
In related reports, cable network provider Virgin Media which serves over half of the country with 50Mb per second, is feeling pressure from the government. The latter has expressed plans that it hopes will allow more users to benefit from superfast connections, and has proposed 50 pence monthly tax on all phone lines in the United Kingdom.
Treasury minister Stephen Timms who lead the Digital Britain plan did comment that the proposed tax will help raise the funds to augment the roll-out of speedier broadband networks to rural communities. Though the public perceives this legislative plan out-of-timing with the next election so close, Timms said the tax will surely be passed by parliament before that period.
The government also committed to have 2Mb per second speed provided to all homes by 2012.
For related details, click here: The Guardian
BT brings Bolly magic to the tube
There is another reason why broadband users should opt to switch providers as BT gave the most surprising announcement this week. BT Vision launched its new extra to the usual packages it offers which include the television services.
The new addition BT Vision offers is the on-demand programming via the BT facility, where television shows and a wider selection of pay-per-view portal will be available. Dubbed Bolly and Beyond, the BT Vision users can now access and pick their favorite shows from the south Asian region.
Apart from bringing Bolly magic to the tube, BT also signed a five-year deal with Shemaroo Entertainment and MoMedia International. This means that subscribers now have the access to freshest and hottest package contents. Even better, the addition would only cost subscribers £6.85 per month.
Among the package which customers would love seeing on the tube are Bollywood movies which stars Akshay Kumar like Singh Is Kingg. The US rapper and reality TV star Snoop Dogg made a cameo in this movie which also stars Katrina Kaif.
Another Bollywood picture coming to BT Vision subscribers when they make a switch would be Luck, which stars Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Aishwariya Rai and Jodha Akbar, and other classic films featuring the glitzy Bollywood celebrities.
BT Vision will also cover the most-watched and successful TV shows. Examples are the celebrity talk show Kofee with Karan, soap operas like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi and childrens programs like Jungle Tales and many others.
Chief executive of BT Vision, Marc Watson, expressed his positive views of the company’s move to offer this option to their subscribers and new customers. He said that there had always been a great demaind for Bollywood to be included in the tube, and now BT Vision has brought the magic of Bollywood and other south Asian entertainment at affordable costs.
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BT Openzone
It’s Everywhere – the BT Openzone
The BT Openzone is a trademarked brand for WiFi or more colloquially ‘Hotspot” service provided by telecommunications giant British Telecoms or BT throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. As of this writing, BT Openzone has more than half a million hotspots scattered throughout the UK isles which includes those provided by the BT FON WiFi Community.
Wireless Broadband Access
BT uses broadband internet technologies to bring wireless connectivity in just about every location in and outside UK cities and towns. You now can just bring your laptop, netbook or internet-capable mobile phones to do your surfing or downloading in cafes and coffee shops, shopping malls, airport lounges, hotels, railway stations, shipping terminals, motor service stations, exhibition sites and legal courts, among others.
To say that the WiFi network is extensive can be an understatement. Apart from using its own wireless broadband infrastructure, BT has business partnerships and roaming agreements with other wireless broadband providers. There’s a good chance you don’t have to look for a BT Openzone hotspot as its pervasive network puts you on one, whether at home, in a corner store near your place or on the road. You get convenient internet access outdoor in just about all the major cities that include Westminster in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Not For Free
The BT Openzone essentially gives everyone the freedom to go online anywhere with no download limits. BT’s public wireless network is similar to mobile phone cell masts scattered throughout the isle. But just like mobile phone use, the freedom to go online wirelessly anywhere in the country isn’t really for free. You have to pay for it, either on a one-time charge whenever you need it, or on a regular subscription with monthly dues. You can get one for as low as ₤5 for 500 minutes one time, or a monthly of ₤12.50 for unlimited access.
Local Loop Unbundling
Local Loop Unbundling or LLU is a government regulated process that allows incumbent telecommunications operators like BT and Kingston in the UK, to make their local exchange’s central office network (the copper cables running from the telephone exchange to the customer’s premises) available to other companies. The physical network connections between the carrier and the customers is called the local loop which is owned by the ILEC or incumbent local exchange carrier also known as the local exchange. Within this process, operators are able to upgrade single individual lines using DLS technology that can provide higher internet speeds directly to the customer.
Advantages
As UK’s dominant local telephone exchange company, BT has extensive local loops installed throughout the UK. This is where the concept of unbundling enters to allow independent ISPs to tap into these local loops to provide the customer alternative to better broadband interest service that may lie outside of BT.
Now, AOL and other broadband internet service providers can install their one respective brand or broadband technology with speeds and downloading limits different from what the incumbent local exchange carrier like BT has. This can be advantageous to the customer if its services are superior to what BT offers.
Legality Behind Unbundling
British Telecom’s license was modified with the insertion of a new condition called Condition 83 which stipulates the co-location products that BT should offer other service providers. In addition, there is a European Commission regulation on Local Loop Unbundling (EC/2887/2000) that was enforced in January 2001. It requires incumbent telecommunication operators all over the EU to make available unbundled access to their respective local loops upon issuance of a reasonable request.
Condition 83 stipulating co-location requirements in the BT license goes with this EC regulation with details that ensure it can be applied in the UK. The details of the regulation can be found at the EU website at http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/dat/2000/en_300R2887.html
