Mobiles could help fixed line broadband increase its speeds

At some stage over the next ten years the capacity limits of the current copper wire telephone network will run out, which will be the equivalent of a digital power blackout, and is something that government planners and ministers are already worrying about.

The digital Britain review of communications policy by Lord Carter of Barnes, which is out at the beginning of next year, is expected to have the issue as it main focus and will be looking to mobile phones as the resolution to the situation.

Although no plans have yet been release by the Communications Minister there have, however, been hints dropped when he wrote in a recent article that he wants to develop “mobile and wireless services that can do for broadband and video what they have done for the spoken word”.
The auctioning of an area of spectrum that was, until now, going to be used for digital TV will be his main attempt to kick start “fourth-generation” mobile technology. Known in the industry as LTE, or Long Term Evolution, this 4G technology can offer download speeds that are five times faster than the current fixed broadband connections allowing for as much as ten megabits or higher.

Due to current widespread disappointment in the mobile internet the chief technology officer of T-Mobile, Joachim Horn believes that fourth generation technology is greatly needed. He said “We are not able to deliver the speed and consumer experience for the applications coming out. We need to accommodate higher use at a lower price.”

Fixed and mobile phone connections are seen by the public as two completely separate entities, however, the two areas are considered to be linked together in Lord Carters view. The current concern by the government is that there isn’t enough fear for fixed line connections to be upgraded with investments from internet providers or by BT itself.

Just as film and TV begin streaming around the web, the possibility that the capacity available from the internet for many household may stop increasing by the middle of the decade is of serious concern.

High-speed mobile technology that is easy to deploy is one threat that may certainly help. With promises of fibre optic broadband deployment to as many as 40 percent of home being made by BT this will still mean copper wire access for the remaining population of Britain.