It has been revealed that Orange is in the process of testing a fixed line broadband service in the UK which can operate at speeds of up to 20Mbps. While perhaps better known for its mobile broadband service the company has access to its own “unbundled” network which effectively means it does not depend on the infrastructure available through British Telecom. This has allowed Orange to develop its own particular broadband service which has shown significant improvement of late.
At this moment in time the new 20Mbps broadband service will only be available to selected customers while the system is tested thoroughly. Those invited onto the programme will have access to their own specific support teams and a micro-site to ensure both Orange and selected customers are able to communicate swiftly and concisely regarding any problems or suggestions regarding the service.
While Orange is not the first UK ISP to offer broadband speeds of 20Mbps and above it is interesting to see the ever decreasing reliance on British Telecom even though the company recently announced plans for a £1.5 billion fibre-optic network throughout the UK. For those who believe that broadband speeds of 20Mbps may not be quick enough for them, keep a close eye for the official launch of Virgin Media’s 50Mbps broadband service which is currently being tested in a number of areas around the country.