UK Forges Ahead with Next Gen Net

From BBC News | Technology | World Edition:

Do-it-yourself broadband schemes are springing up around the UK as communities refuse to wait for big firms to roll out faster networks. That is the conclusion of a new report into the state of broadband in Britain. The Communications Consumer Panel, an advisory body, has mapped over 40 local broadband projects. They range from a scheme in Hampshire to run fibre to just 30 houses to one in Yorkshire that will connect around 550,000 homes. Bradnet Report author Roger Darlington was surprised by the number of schemes available. "There were a lot more than I realised, which reflects a certain amount of frustration that people are not seeing super-fast broadband rolled out as fast as they would like," he said. The scheme in Hampshire relates to a tiny hamlet called Bradley, where a local resident is evaluating whether fibre can be laid to the homes of residents. Hampshire County Council is willing to assist the project, dubbed Bradnet, and money could be made available via the European Social Fund. Many of the schemes are being planned in partnership with either the local council or the relevant Regional Development Agency. But some have come from the communities themselves.

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