Darling's broadband budget will leave UK behind: i3 Group calls for Government commitment on 100Mbps fibre to the home

23rd April 2009 - Yesterday's budget announcement reinforces how Britain faces being left red faced on the world stage unless the Government raises its ambitions to include 100mbps Fibre To The Home (FTTH). The country is set to be left in the wake of the worldwide digital revolution if the limited ambitions of the Government's Digital Britain report are allowed to rollout super slow 2Mbps broadband across the UK.

Elfed Thomas, CEO of i3 Group, the only company successfully installing true FTTH in the UK, believes consumers deserve access to super fast broadband speeds and should not be limited by antiquated copper networks.

Mr Thomas is challenging the assertion that consumers neither need nor want 100Mbps broadband speeds, as put forward by BT chief executive Ian Livingstone at the recent Digital Britain summit. In defending BT's limited ambition of 40Mbps Fibre To The Cabinet (FTTC), Mr Livingstone likened faster and slower broadband speeds to the difference between a Ferrari and a Ford, suggesting the British people were "happy with a Ford".

Mr Thomas said the BT boss has merely confirmed the restrictions of a network which relies on the old copper wiring from the cabinet to the home. He fears the country's future communications capabilities could be harmed by BT's restrained ambition.

He said: "We are on the verge of a communications revolution in this country and the deployment of an infrastructure that will serve this nation for generations to come. For anyone to suggest that we let this opportunity pass with an 'anything will do' attitude is scandalous. To say the public does not want 100Mbps is a smokescreen for the admission that BT is incapable of providing super fast broadband due to the limitations of its antiquated copper network."

The opportunities offered by fibre optics, both now and in the future, can not be underestimated. How can we possibly seek to deploy a national fibre optic network only to limit its speed to 40mbps? This notion will result in BT's network becoming obsolete in the very foreseeable future. Digital Britain requires ambitious, forward thinking leaders who understand that we are not building a network to fulfil our current needs, rather we are investing in the future."

i3 Group subsidiary Fibrecity has already installed true FTTH to homes in Bournemouth, both new build and, crucially, existing properties. The seaside town is the first of 10 Fibrecities nationwide and will be connected by the end of 2010. Dundee will be next and fibre deployment will start this summer.

Its sister company, Fibrezone, has recently announced the first customers will be able to connect to the dark fibre ring in South Ayrshire which will make fibre connectivity more cost effective and accessible than ever for businesses.

For more than five years, i3 Group's H2O Networks division has installed cost-effective super fast business communications connections, via point-to-point fibre optic cables, for customers including local authorities, universities and hospitals. The company's unique deployment method, the patented FS System, lays cables via the sewer network thereby reducing the need for expensive road digs.

Mr Thomas said i3 Group offered proof that a comprehensive network at 100Mbps can be cost effective. He said: "Such low aspiration is an insult to UK plc, especially when we have a proven business model for fibre optic deployment which is already paying dividends for our customers and investors.

"With presence in Bournemouth and roll out starting in Dundee and South Ayrshire, we're not simply chasing revenue by targeting the big cities like Manchester, Birmingham and London, as we want to see an inclusive, national rollout."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the summit, held at the British Museum in London Last Friday, saying the UK should be leading the world in the application of next generation technology. Mr Brown told the assembled guests that the digital revolution would be key to the country's economic success throughout the 21st and 22nd centuries, but stopped short of calling on industry leaders to install future proof networks.

But with the Australian government having pledged £43bn to a national fibre network, the USA and Abu Dhabi set to follow suite and many East Asian countries already offering comprehensive super fast connectivity, Mr Thomas said anything less than 100Mbps FTTH would leave the UK facing an uphill struggle to compete.

He said: "It is not a question of leading the would at this point, we are already well behind other countries which have already committed to 100Mbps FTTH. The Government wants to see business employing state-of-the-art communications systems as it wants to encourage not only greater international dimension, but also to enable more remote and home working, thereby reducing traffic congestion and supporting flexible hours."

Fibrecity is not only delivering 100Mbps connectivity but, via a second 40Mbps fibre strand dedicated to local services, also fulfils Mr Brown's desire to see next generation services aid community cohesion and communication.

Mr Thomas concluded: "Gordon Brown said cohesive communities are key to a joined up Britain and is keen to see local government, charities, schools and business groups become better connected in order to grow and succeed. We had already identified this as a potential application and have installed the technology.