Broadband And The Sewer Network
As they say in Yorkshire, ?Where there is muck there is brass?, well it seems to be the way for H20 Networks, a provider of broadband services to UK internet users.? The company are in talks with a host of councils across the country with regards to using the UK?s extensive sewer network to lay broadband fibre optics.? So what have they really got to offer?
The company involved seem to have some really ambitions plans and have indicated that they will be offering transfer speeds of up to 100 megabits per second against the standard BT rate of just 8 megabits per second.? H20 Networks already offer a limited sewer based service in Aberdeen and Bath and argue that the idea can save literally millions of pounds because the main cost of any new network is actually laying the cables.? After reaching earlier agreements with various authorities around the country they will ensure the cables are dug out of the way of rodents and other animals which may venture around the sewer network of the UK, thereby reducing the chances of damage.
There are some who are already pointing to a similar venture which was launched at the start of 2000 which unfortunately failed, however it seems as though the earlier venture was a little ahead of its time.? As we keep reading in the newspapers, broadband use in the UK has risen dramatically and we are already putting a huge strain on the systems currently in place.? There are real concerns that the UK broadband service may be in severe danger if improvements are not made to capacity levels.
As well as the cost factor (which would see the cost of laying cables to serve a small city reduced from ?80m to ?24m) there are also positive aspects for the environment.? It will be interesting to see how far this venture can go because there is no doubt that the UK broadband sector is screaming out for help!
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