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Next-gen broadband 'should solve bandwidth problems'
Friday 5th December 2008, by Daniel King
The introduction of next-generation fibre-optics broadband should solve the problems caused by increased bandwidth use, an expert has claimed.
In the last year, the popularity of high-definition online video has boomed with BBC's iPlayer service increasing in popularity.
At the start of 2008, YouTube was synonymous with online video, but has seen stiff competition from iPlayer, which offers high-resolution television shows.
Users need to download large amounts of data to watch their favourite programmes, something the ADSL network in the UK is struggling provide.
However, this has not been without its problems, as many broadband subscribers found themselves facing large bills for exceeding their download usage.
Tom Newton, a broadband expert at UK Web Media, said that the iPlayer, "has already tested the limits of several so-called 'unlimited' usage plans".
He noted that many customers have been required to pay extra for exceeding fair use policies and in some cases have lost access to the internet completely.
"With the deployment of next-gen fibre networks in the pipeline, and with the imminent arrival of Virgin Media's new 50Mbps service, such problems will eventually become a thing of the past," he added.
Virgin Media is not the only internet service provider to announce that it is improving the quality of its services.
Orange recently said that they will be investing money from broadband subscriptions to improving its network, as opposed to spending it on acquiring new members.
This could prove a wise move because broadband uptake is slowing in the UK as the market becomes saturated and internet service providers with poor quality connections and customer service could find their subscribers switching to another company.
Categories: Broadband, Switching, Broadband Products, Orange, Virgin Media
