Posts Tagged broadband news
First Great Western passengers to get Wi-Fi access
Posted by Jeremy in Latest Broadband News on February 21, 2012
Passengers using services run by First Great Western will soon have access to wireless broadband on platforms, waiting rooms and station concourses following an announcement by the rail company that it has signed a deal with Wi-Fi operator The Cloud. The partnership will see services rolled out at 23 stations around the UK.
The first stations to have the services implemented will include Oxford, Ealing Broadway and Maidenhead and installation of the networks is scheduled to start at some point in March. Once in place passengers will have access to a reliable connection that will allow them to check and send emails, browse current affairs websites and access up to date train timetables.
The next 10 stations to have their wireless broadband connection improved will include Reading, Bath and stations in Bristol
When announcing the partnership, Station Contracts Manager for First Great Western, Robert Jackson, said: “Travellers now expect to be able to access the internet wherever they are, especially to pass the time during their commutes. The popularity of Wi-Fi – as seen in stations with existing connectivity – made the decision to expand and upgrade a very easy one to make. This deal with The Cloud enhances the Wi-Fi network at those stations and extends it across many other busy stations, improving the service we provide to millions of passengers every year.”
Vince Russell, Managing Director of The Cloud, added: “Millions of people received smartphones, tablets and e-readers for Christmas and will want to make the most of them on their commute. Wi-Fi provides an excellent and consistent connection which, as many travellers will recognise, is not always possible when travelling across the country. This new deal with First Great Western will mean millions of extra travellers will benefit from The Cloud’s Wi-Fi service.”
With Wi-Fi services being rolled out around the London rail and underground network in time for the Olympics Games in the summer, commuters can expect to see a dramatic improvement in the level of Wi-Fi services available at train stations.
Virgin Media confirms position on rural broadband
Posted by Jeremy in Latest Broadband News on February 16, 2012
Virgin Media have announced that it is willing to meet with organisations representing rural communities in the UK to discuss the ongoing issue of rolling out broadband services to communities based in the countryside, although the ISP did not go as far as promising to help fund the rollout.
A Virgin Media spokesperson told ISPReview: “Our doors have always been open to the CLA and other groups to try to find solutions to the problem of poor connectivity in rural areas.”
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) are one of the most vocal campaigners for the improvement (or indeed installation) of rural Britain’s broadband infrastructure.
The company says it is eager to assist in finding solutions to the inferior connectivity that rural areas have to endure, although the spokesperson admitted Virgin Media would not be altering its strategy for the rollout of superfast fibre optic broadband services. Its fibre optic network currently reaches 10 million homes.
The spokesperson said: “We have invested over £13 billion of private money in building our network to half the country and, while we continue to expand our reach, we are doing so within our own means.”
Last week Virgin Media was accused by the CLA of ignoring businesses and homes in rural parts of the UK in favour of giving areas that already boast impressive broadband connection access to even faster speeds.
Dr Charles Trotman, the CLA’s Head of Rural Development said in a statement released on 8 February 2012 that: “Virgin Media’s latest rollout ignores homes and businesses in the countryside to give areas that already have good broadband even faster connections. Rural areas with inadequate broadband should be brought up to speed first before doubling the speeds for areas that do not need improving.”
Following the announcment by Virgin Media, industry commentators are waiting with baited breathe to see how the CLA responds.
Rural broadband still sees widespread connectivity issues
Posted by Jeremy in Latest Broadband News on February 15, 2012
Broadband is in widespread use across the UK but recent studies have revealed there are still many basic connectivity problems around the country.
The effectivity of the web to stream video smoothly is still being worked out in many locations. The study- carried out by the Telegraph- has shown that a standard urban area is generating an internet connection of 6.9.megabits per second. This broadband speed would be just enough to watch a programme on a TV website iplayer such as BBC iplayer or 4OD.
However in rural areas the broadband connection is much slower at 3.6 megabits per second. This results in very limited capacity when streaming videos and a sluggish download rate. Watching any type of video such as YouTube or iplayer streaming will be almost impossible. Streaming DVD-quality video, however, requires 10Mbps, while Blu-ray quality would require 40Mbps. Both of these are well above the UK average of 7.6Mbps, even including rural areas.
The potential rural customer can research which internet service provider will have the best reception levels in their area before buying. There are great websites which anyone can access this broadband comparison service, but for the countryside local, being aware of their lacking broadband coverage is not enough. The ‘digital divide’ is encouraged even though rural people will subscribe to contracts that cost the same tariff for apparently the same amount of data.
For the general public and businesses alike in these rustic environments, the noticeable faults with the accepted service is stark. The internet is just as much a part of their working practices and everyday lives yet the assistance offered does not match this need.
More figures have been highlighted verifying that the use of broadband is on the rise globally. And this growth has been predicted to continue until 2016.