One of the most frustrating things that can happen, especially if you are working from home, is having slow or lagging internet connection. It sometimes feels like it decides to dip out on purpose when you have a mile long list of tasks to complete.
Well, BT and Sky broadband users in the UK may be free from this torture soon, as a ‘crucial’ upgrade has been tested that could give customers the biggest speed boost ever. This comes as BT’s Openreach and Nokia have confirmed that they have tested new technology which sparked life back into the web in homes at speeds of 50Gbps.
To show how impressive this new upgrade is, the Express reports that the current maximum speed offered by Openreach is around 1.5Gbps. More shockingly, many homes are still using ageing cables that can only rally a measly 75Mbps.
For those who haven’t moved away from copper lines and onto a faster system, it could take up to 10 minutes to download a full HD film. In comparison, people who have 1Gbps full fibre, can start watching the newest release in around 30 seconds.
This is already a massive jump, so imagine how quickly a full movie could download with high-quality definition, if 50Gbps connections were available. It could be done in the blink of an eye.
On top of this, the test conducted by the two tech companies on current fibre technology that is already piped and available in properties across the UK. This means this crazy upgrade could easily be done without any major changes.
The Openreach network is used by firms such as Sky, BT and Vodafone, meaning that millions of people across the UK who use these brands could soon have access to these exceptionally fast download speeds. The initial test was conducted at a residential property in Ipswich, using Nokia’s new ’50G PON’ technology.
However, as of right now there is no word on if these rapid speeds will ever be accessible to customers as most average houses will never get close to needing 50Gbps broadband. However, some change is needed as downloads are becoming bigger and we are continuing to use more and more data. It may truly be needed in the future.
Trevor Linney, network technology director at Openreach, said: “As the country’s largest full fibre provider, it’s crucial that we continue to research, innovate and evolve our network to meet our customers’ demands for decades to come.
“The Full Fibre network we’re building today is a platform for the UK’s economic, social and environmental prosperity, and this test proves we can keep upgrading the speeds and services our customers experience over that network long into the future.
“Today we’re deploying XGS-PON ready equipment, and this trial proves we’re ready for the next generational leap, as and when it’s needed.”