Broadband News

BT engineers unearth secret to superfast installation

Monday 14 November, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Engineers can install fibre optic broadband quicker than ever, with BT’s new secret weapon - the “super shovel”

Like most technology firms, BT strives to remain at the cutting edge of new developments - and its latest weapon in the hi-tech battle to stay ahead is ... a spade.

The telecoms giant, which plans to invest £300million in upgrades to its fibre optic broadband network by 2014, believes its “super shovel” could save tens of millions of pounds.

Andy Pilejko, from BT’s infrastructure division Openreach, said the new tool’s “extra sharp” edges allow engineers to cut through tarmac and quickly remove blockages when installing superfast broadband.

“This enables the engineer to complete the job without waiting a number of days for a separate civil engineering team to dig up the pathway,” he added.

In fact, the shovel could reduce the time it takes to lay fibre optic cables, supporting speeds of up to 40Mb, from up to a week to just two days.

The super shovel, together with other innovations, will help BT achieve its aim to connect two-thirds of UK premises by the end of 2014 – one year ahead of its initial target.

Openreach is trialling a new polymer-based plinth to speed up installation of superfast fibre broadband.

Pilejko explained: “Currently, we use a concrete plinth as a base for our fibre cabinets, involving either pouring wet concrete on site and waiting several days for it to cure, or manhandling a precast base on site.

“The polymer-based plinth is pre-formed and light and is, therefore, quicker and easier to install and reduces the impact on our carbon footprint.”

Around six million households already have access to the technology, which allows downloads significantly quicker than BT’s older copper phone lines. The figure is predicted to reach 10 million in 2012.

Another provider, Virgin Media, has meanwhile announced that over half of its new subscribers now choose a superfast broadband connection. In fact, over a quarter of its customer base now receive speeds of 20Mb or higher.

Virgin Media has said it is on track to roll out 100Mb broadband across its entire UK network by the middle of next year.