In a bizarre turnaround it has been revealed that Virgin Broadband is looking to build a future broadband network using telephone lines and telecommunication poles currently installed around the UK. Despite the fact that communication networks in the UK have predominantly been built underground for many years it is easy to see the number of communication poles ready and waiting to be used, assuming that government and regulatory approval is forthcoming.
While there are potentially more risks to open air network structures, such as vandalism and the fact they are open to the elements, it would massively reduce the cost of creating an underground UK fibre-optic network, especially in some of the more rural areas of the UK. This is an interesting alternative which Virgin Broadband is piloting in a small Berkshire village with residents set to receive access to broadband as well as media on demand.
There will be many other broadband providers in the UK monitoring this pilot scheme very carefully and awaiting confirmation that the UK government will allow the use of telephone and other communication poles to build alternative broadband networks in the UK. If Virgin Broadband is able to reduce the cost of setting up a nationwide network then this is likely to be reflected in the overall cost of the service.