BT will test G.Fast technology in Swansea, providing 100 premises in the Welsh city with 500Mbps ‘ultrafast’ broadband using Alcatel-Lucent equipment. The trial in Swansea will build on the existing investment BT has made in fibre infrastructure in the city. Approximately 83% of the Swansea local authority area already has access to fibre when both BT’s commercial and Superfast Cymru’s roll out are combined. The technical trial will focus on how G.fast can be used to serve Multiple Dwelling Units (blocks of flats) and business premises, both of which present unique challenges that differ from ordinary residential deployments.
To support the initiative, BT has opened a G.fast test lab at its Swansea office to test out ultrafast broadband technology. BT has been trialling ‘G.fast’ technology, which is capable of transmitting data at very high speeds, at its labs in Adastral Park, Suffolk. Two large scale trials will be held in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and Gosforth, Newcastle later this summer. These trials will be led by Openreach, BT’s local access network business, and will be open to all Communications Providers on an equal basis.
Mike Galvin, Managing Director of Service, Strategy and Operations, BT
BT’s research into ultrafast ‘G.fast’ technology is now moving out of the labs and into the field. Wales is an excellent location to trial cutting-edge new broadband technologies, and we’re delighted that the Welsh Government and The City of Swansea will play such a key role. This partnership further enables BT to deploy and validate the next generation of multi-media business and consumer communications capabilities – capabilities that will ultimately benefit the entire UK and ensure our communications services remain among the best in the world. Our technical trial will allow us to evaluate the best way of delivering ultrafast speeds to flats and business premises nationwide.
Image by Wiccasha (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
