BT extends trials of boondocks broadband

BT has announced plans to extend trials of technology to allow more homes and businesses in remote locations to receive stable broadband.

Openreach's "Broadband Enabling Technology" (BET) - which amplifies signals - will be deployed in eight more rural exchanges from September 30, BT said today.

During successful trials in Inverness and Dingwall, in Scotland, the kit delivered a stable 1Mbit/s downstream - or 2Mbit/s via two bonded lines - to premises up to 12km from the exchange. BT says it is more reliable than 3G and satellite services.

Openreach is hoping local authorities will be interested in subsidising wider rollout of the technology, which it's estimated will cost between £1,000 and £3,000 per line*, to fill in broadband "not spots" from early next year.

Broadband services will then be sold through the usual retailers.

"We're keen to work with local and regional authorities and other bodies with funding to discuss how the technology can be rolled out to their areas," said service deliver managing director John Small.

There's more information about BET on the Openreach site here. ®

*This story originally incorrectly said the cost had been estimated per exchange. BT has confirmed it will cost up to £3,000 per line. That'll be why it wants subsidies, then.

Bootnote

Here's the list of trial exchanges:

• Twyford BERKSHIRE South East England
• Badsey WORCESTERSHIRE West Midlands
• Llanfyllin POWYS Wales
• Leyland LANCASHIRE North West England
• Ponteland NORTHUMBERLAND North East England
• Wigton CUMBRIA North West England
• Horsham WEST SUSSEX South East England
• Wymondham NORFOLK East of england
• Inverness Culloden Scotland*
• Dingwall Scotland*

*Existing deployments