BT’s local network business, Openreach has kicked started a proof of concept (PoC) trials of Long Reach VDSL technology at a remote community of North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
Around 20 households in the Outer Hebrides village, a have been identified to take part in the technology testing. Openreach claims that the initial results are encouraging with most households seeing significant increases in their fibre broadband speeds. The village – popular with surfers thanks to its long, sandy beach – was chosen due to its remoteness and that fact its fibre cabinet supports a cluster of long lines, said BT.
Broadband speeds can reduce over significant distances and Openreach is keen to find a solution to that challenge. This is particularly the case given it shares the UK government’s ambition that all premises receive a minimum of 10Mbps regardless of how remote they are.
Developed in its own labs, the Long Reach VDSL operates at higher power levels and makes use of a wider range of frequencies to increase broadband speeds and the distance over which they can be delivered.
Openreach plans to hold further trials of the technology in a number of locations around the UK. More details will be announced in due course.
Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach
This is a British innovation story, and our world class labs are pioneering a technology which could improve speeds for thousands of homes and businesses across Scotland and the rest of the UK – particularly those connected by long lines that are between 2.5km and 3.5km away from the cabinet.
Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland
I’m acutely aware of the frustration this causes for those at the end of these lines. We’re working hard to develop technology to help us fill the remaining gaps in the UK’s high-speed broadband jigsaw. This is a significant part of the puzzle, and if successful, North Tolsta could have another reason to be popular with surfers.
