Bulldog to launch 20Mb broadband

Bulldog is to begin offering broadband at speeds of around 20Mbps from spring once it has completed trials of its ADSL2+ service.

The broadband operator, which provides services direct to end users by installing its kit in BT exchanges (aka local loop unbundling or LLU), has been carrying out trials of the service since September.

Punters in London, Liverpool and Manchester have been taking part in the trial to see whether ADSL2+ is stable enough to provide a decent service. Because the speed of the service, it can be influenced by the length of the phone line, its quality and interference (among other factors). Bulldog is keen to see ADSL2+ working in the field and not just in the lab.

Even though ADSL2+ might be able to run at more than 20Mbps, in reality speeds might not be that great. The Cable & Wireless ISP has already found, for example, that line length has a major impact on speed.

Homes less than 1km from an exchange are, on average, getting around 18Mbps, while those at 1.5km are getting around 15Mbps. At 2km, the speed drops to 10Mbps, although Bulldog is keen to point out that these are just rough estimates and depend on the quality of each line.

Commenting on the trial, Bulldog chief architect Gavin Young said the ISP wants to "ensure that our broadband services meet the increasing needs of our customers", and that "ADSL2+ represents the next evolution of broadband access". ®