BT announces fibre pilot sites

Muswell Hill in North London and Whitchurch in South Glamorgan will provide the location for two pilot tests of BT's next-generation broadband infrastructure.

The two areas will be given fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) access, where fibre-optic technology is combined with copper telephone wires to provide broadband access.

Theoretically, FTTC could deliver data at speeds of up to 40Mbps. The trials are due to begin in summer 2009 and will involve up to 15,000 properties, according to BT.

"The sites were chosen in consultation with communications providers and took into account feedback from Regional Development Agencies, Devolved Authorities and similar organisations," said David Campbell, BT Openreach’s director of next-generation access.

"It was also necessary to take into account current network topology and our ability to run testing procedures in the chosen areas. We have a good mix of areas, allowing us to test our products in both urban and semi-rural environments," Campbell continued.

BT is currently running fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) in Ebbsfleet in Kent, a system that is potentially capable of speeds of up to 100Mbps.

The company has recently revealed plans for a next-generation broadband network in the UK, with one of the main sticking points being whether rural areas will miss out on the new technology.

www.bt.com