Fibre Cities

I recently had a long phone call with a company called H2O Networks a few days ago. This outfit are using the sewers to deliver fibre links to every premisis within a city (link to what they've done in Bournemouth http://www.fibrecity.eu/bournemouth/

The reason for the call is that they're planning to do some more rollouts, including a city near me. It was explained to me that it will be rather like transco. They deliver gas to your door and it's up to you if you want to connect or not.

They offer 100mb speeds, and because they have agreements with the water companies, there's no huge amounts of roads to be dug up. In addition, each city has a high speed back haul to Linx. The implications could be huge. In one fell swoop, BT's 21CN efforts could be leap froged. With stable 100mb connections, VOIP could easly become the norm. No last copper mile to worry about.

It seems an ideal opportunity for VoIP related business, but can anyone think of any downsides?

regards

Quote:

but can anyone think of any downsides

They seem to be just putting darkfibre in cities that don't yet have loads of it under their streets already. it will be down to cost, and what they bundle with it. and if they can compete with the cable companies.

Ian

I have fibre to the outside wall of house that the cable company put in years ago. I have never connected to it though. The problem here is, not the fibre, but rather the bits to squirt down it (I get about 1.2 Mb up stable). I live on an island (about the same size as England) and we have two undersea "wires" I think at present from the mainland and two more will be installed very soon. I supposed the same is true of areas of the UK where cable or copper makes little difference at present if the available bandwith is not there or cannot be serviced for high speeds.

At last a broadband connection that wont disconnect whenever it gets wet

More seriously, any additional competition for the last mile has to be a good thing for consumers.

jpdw :

At last a broadband connection that wont disconnect whenever it gets wet

And, also when it is filthy with dirt.