UK sewage network could provide super fast broadband

Laying fibre in the Britain’s aging sewage system could provide users with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and save the country around as much as £15bn, according to Wales-based H20 Networks.

The company is in discussions with councils in Dundee, Bournemouth and Northampton with a view to serving up ultra-fast broadband to city residents using residential sewerage systems.

According to H20 Networks managing director Elfed Thomas it would cost between £15m and £24m to connect to a small town or city, compared with up to £80m through new road cables. Using the sewage system instead should also prove much to the environment than digging up the roads.

H20 Networks is already providing a sewer-based broadband service to small, concentrated user communities, including Bath and Aberdeen University. The company hopes to supply an additional 10 to15 towns and cities using the sewage system over the next five years.

Similar schemes have proved a success in other parts of the world, including France and Japan.

See also:

Global broadband growth slowing

But North America still keeping the pace going  15 Jan 2008

Vodafone gets Stick for wireless broadband

New USB modem offers 7.2Mbps downloads  11 Jan 2008

BT offers 100Mbps fibre-based broadband

Superfast network for residential and business customers  11 Jan 2008

Comcast to offer 160Mbps broadband

Download an HD film in less than four minutes  10 Jan 2008

UK broadband to soar in 2008

Increased demand will drive innovation, says ISP Association  03 Jan 2008

Broadband over powerlines is a 'winner'

Adoption expected to ramp up globally  17 Dec 2007

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