Recent reports suggest that a network firm is planning to install fibre through the sewers, and this could mean speeds of up to 100MB

According to a recent report a North Wales company, called H20 Networks, is planning to install fibre networking through the sewers, which could mean speeds of up to 100MB as well as cutting out the costs association with digging up and repairing roads. There is still speculation over which area will become the first town to see the benefits of the fibre installation, but it is likely to be Dundee, Northampton, or Bournemouth.

This has become known as the FOCUS Network, which is an abbreviation for the Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer Network. Experts state that because the firm is planning to install the fibre through the sewers rather than via the roads, a significant amount of money, time, and disruption will be saved, as roads will not have to be dug up and then repaired again for the network to be completed.

One report has suggested that the roll out of the fibre installation could be as early as September of this year. H20 Networks has been discussing the rollout of the network with broadband providers and media industries, asking for the help of these industries with the rollout of the network.

One official from H20 Networks stated: “While deploying traditional fibre over a 2km area would be six to 12 months in the planning. We can do it in four hours. An average town of 75,000 homes would cost someone deploying traditional fibre between £50m and £70m. We can do it for 20 to 30% of that.”

There has been concern over recent months with regards to how far behind the UK is lagging when it comes to keeping up with broadband technology, and this move could help to bring the nation up to speed with other countries that are already making good use of fibre networking.