In an attempt to increase the take-up of broadband in rural areas of the UK, 10 different “not spots” have been identified and will receive assistance from BT with a new broadband enabling technology. As part of the UK government’s attempt to make broadband more accessible to more rural areas of the UK, British Telecom has introduced a new technology which can support broadband services up to 12 km away from the actual telephone exchange.
The 12 km distance is more than double the range available using traditional broadband technology and could be the answer to “not spots” around the UK. This is perhaps the first meaningful breakthrough with regards to rural areas of the UK which have until now remained fairly low on the list of priorities for UK broadband providers. There is some concern in the sector that the government will at some point introduce guidelines which will force all broadband providers to make their services more accessible by those in some of the more sparse areas of the UK.
Trials of the new system have been very successful in some areas of Scotland and this is the reason why the technology is now being introduced to Wales and other areas of the UK.