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Efforts to bring high-speed connectivity to rural parts of the UK are receiving a boost as trials of new fibre technology get underway.
BT Openreach is using technology called Long Reach VDSL to deliver higher-speed services to residents on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Around 20 households in the remote village of North Tolsta have been selected for the initial pilot scheme, which aims to boost speeds at locations far away from their nearest communications cabinet.
Long Reach VDSL operates at higher power levels than standard cabling and also makes use of a wider range of frequencies in order to boost speeds and increase the range of the service.
Openreach explained that broadband speeds can deteriorate over significant distances, so finding a solution to this challenge is one of its key priorities as it aims to deliver on government targets that will aim to see 95 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK able to achieve speeds of at least 10Mbps by the end of next year, with every premises being able to access minimum speeds of 2Mbps, regardless of location.
Chief executive of the company Clive Selley said: “Getting faster speeds to rural communities is one of my biggest priorities, so testing new solutions in the field like this is a crucial part of that process."
He stated that laboratory tests have already indicated that Long Reach VDSL has the potential to deliver large speed increases to remote parts of the UK that are poorly-served by existing connectivity technology.
Early results from the trial have been positive, with more households reporting significant speed increases in the days following the installation of the technology. Once the initial proof of concept has been demonstrated, Openreach is aiming to roll out more tests at locations throughout the UK.
Mr Selley said: "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."
North Tolsta - which is popular with surfers thanks to its long, sandy beach - was selected for the trial due to its remoteness and the fact its cabinet supports a cluster of long lines. If it proves successful, the new technology will remain in operation at the higher speed for the foreseeable future.
Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, added: "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."
