£1m research project aims for 10Gbits/sec broadband

 

Gallery

By Asavin Wattanajantra

Posted on 18 May 2009 at 14:03

An organisation supporting UK businesses has invested £1 million in companies researching 'ultra-fast' broadband.

The Technology Strategy Board, established by the Government to promote UK innovation, is ultimately looking at ultra-fast broadband speeds of between 1 and 10Gbits/sec.

There are 13 projects in total, which cost between £30,000 and £100,000. Collaborating with researchers in Europe, these could lead to better-funded EU research partnerships.

Mike Biddle, lead technologist at the Technology Strategy Board, believes that success could lead to a Europe-wide optical broadband network.

Biddle claims it has the potential to give European businesses a "major competitive edge" and "change the way businesses operate".

"Imagine the efficiencies that could be achieved through broadband that's up to 1,000 times faster we have now," he says.

"Then add the opportunities for more flexible working arrangements and you begin to see the many advantages," he adds.

One of the projects is a road-mapping study involving BT, Ericsson and Cambridge University, which will seek the most cost-effective, simple and future-proof ways of providing 10Gbits/sec speeds.

Once the study is finished, the results will be made available to the rest of the industry to enable the next stage of development to take place.