50Mb ‘attainable through copper’
15th August 2008
Broadband speeds of up to 50Mb could one day be the norm for the UK, says Ofcom
Such speed levels would be attainable using the traditional copper network, the regulatory body explains in a newly-published report on broadband.
Looking at an "idealised environment", Ofcom came to the conclusion that capacities could be increased in the future to ensure high-speed broadband for all.
Tech Radar reported that Ofcom said: "We found that if the upstream modem is hosted in the exchange, households within 2km of the exchange (approximately 18 per cent of the total number of households) could, in theory, receive data rates above 50Mbit/s."
Continuing: "The real value of this study is to suggest an upper limit, given all technical progress possible, of 50Mbit/s, with fibre to the cabinet."
The results were published in a report entitled the ‘Assessment of the Theoretical Limits of Copper in the Last Mile’, in which the extent of the existing broadband infrastructure’s capabilities were measured.
Member of the Internet Services Providers' Association
Member of the Broadband Stakeholder Group