BT says it will begin to offer 300-Mbps services within 50 exchange areas where it has deployed fiber to the premises (FTTP).
The new Infinity 300-Mbps FTTP service will include 20-Mbps upstream capabilities. Existing FTTP customers will be able to upgrade to the new service by signing up for the £50 Unlimited package. This package includes no usage limits or traffic management, BT asserts.
BT describes the new services as the fastest available in the UK from “all of the major ISPs.” This characterization, of course, conveniently sidesteps offerings such as the alternative operator Hyperoptics' 1-Gbps services as well as the capabilities of some grass roots networks. It also comes at least seven months after BT originally predicted it would (see "BT launches FTTP service, promises 300 Mbps next year").
The 300-Mbps number appears to hold some sort of magic among Tier 1 carriers. Verizon has offered a 300-Mbps FiOS service, which Comcast almost immediately topped with a 305-Mbps service.
For more information on FTTx equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.