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| UK 'slow' on ultra-fast internet | |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Broadband industry leaders are to meet ministers to discuss how to stop the UK dropping into the internet "slow lane". | Broadband industry leaders are to meet ministers to discuss how to stop the UK dropping into the internet "slow lane". |
| More than half of all UK homes now have a broadband connection, at an average speed of four megabits a second (Mbps). | More than half of all UK homes now have a broadband connection, at an average speed of four megabits a second (Mbps). |
| But the broadband summit will hear other countries are moving more quickly to build ultra-fast networks that can deliver speeds of as much as 100 Mbps. | But the broadband summit will hear other countries are moving more quickly to build ultra-fast networks that can deliver speeds of as much as 100 Mbps. |
| Ministers say ultra-fast broadband will be a key to helping UK businesses "innovate, grow and create wealth". | Ministers say ultra-fast broadband will be a key to helping UK businesses "innovate, grow and create wealth". |
| Average speed | Average speed |
| "We need to be discussing how we can put this new network into place, because delay could be a barrier to the future success of our economy," said Stephen Timms, minister for competitiveness. | "We need to be discussing how we can put this new network into place, because delay could be a barrier to the future success of our economy," said Stephen Timms, minister for competitiveness. |
| The broadband summit will discuss how industry, government and regulators can make sure Britain gets the next-generation network that will be needed as services like internet video take off. | The broadband summit will discuss how industry, government and regulators can make sure Britain gets the next-generation network that will be needed as services like internet video take off. |
| See top 20 countries for broadband speed | |
| Copper lines | Copper lines |
| BT - Britain's biggest broadband provider - has already warned that it may struggle to pay for an ultra-fast network. | BT - Britain's biggest broadband provider - has already warned that it may struggle to pay for an ultra-fast network. |
| But cable company Virgin says it will deliver 50 Mbps broadband by the end of next year - more than twice the maximum speed it currently offers. | But cable company Virgin says it will deliver 50 Mbps broadband by the end of next year - more than twice the maximum speed it currently offers. |
| Virgin's 50 Mbps service will be available to more than 70% of the 12.5m homes its cable network covers by the end of 2008, the firm said. | Virgin's 50 Mbps service will be available to more than 70% of the 12.5m homes its cable network covers by the end of 2008, the firm said. |
| The company is not digging up streets or laying new fibre to homes, but is installing new equipment at the hubs and bundling together spare channels on the line. | The company is not digging up streets or laying new fibre to homes, but is installing new equipment at the hubs and bundling together spare channels on the line. |
| Most of Britain's broadband access is delivered through existing copper telephone lines, which were never designed to deliver ultra-fast broadband. | Most of Britain's broadband access is delivered through existing copper telephone lines, which were never designed to deliver ultra-fast broadband. |
| BT is due to roll out ADSL2+ in the coming years but speeds will be limited to a maximum of 24 Mbps. | BT is due to roll out ADSL2+ in the coming years but speeds will be limited to a maximum of 24 Mbps. |
| In the US, companies such as Verizon have invested billions of dollars in fibre to the home, providing hundreds of video channels and high-speed broadband. | In the US, companies such as Verizon have invested billions of dollars in fibre to the home, providing hundreds of video channels and high-speed broadband. |
| BT is investing £10bn in speeding up the existing network, which includes some fibre, and will be able to deliver download speeds of 24 Mbps by 2011. | BT is investing £10bn in speeding up the existing network, which includes some fibre, and will be able to deliver download speeds of 24 Mbps by 2011. |
| Speeds advertised are often the maximum possible, coverage may not be nationwide | |
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