BT is testing a new form of broadband technology that transmits data over microwaves rather than fixed lines.
The British telecoms giant is carrying out further tests of the technology in the Yorkshire village of Westow, following similar trials on the island of Rathlin and the Devon village of Northlew.
This so-called Wireless-to-the-Cabinet (WTTC) approach connects telephone exchanges to local street cabinets using a line-of-sight wireless microwave link rather than the current fibre optic cable solution (or FTTC).
Those local cabinets then connect to homes using good old fashioned copper cable, as is the case in current superfast broadband services.
These tests are seen as a way for BT to reach the final 5 percent of the UK that is still unable to access superfast broadband. The logistics of laying down fibre optic cable in small, remote population centres like Westow are simply not viable.
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ISPReview points out that this latest test from BT could be an attempt to secure government funding for reaching this remaining 5 percent. To date, the only funding the UK government has supplied in relation to this cause has been for eight non-BT pilot projects.
Evidently, BT isn’t remaining idle in its efforts to reach that final 5 percent, as well as to boost speeds for the lucky 95 percent.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
