UK's TalkTalk gets high on fiber-based broadband

Priding itself on being a “cheap broadband provider,” UK's TalkTalk is upping the ante of its broadband service suite with the trial of a fiber-based service that will enable users to get up to 40 Mbps of bandwidth.
 
As one of the many competitive providers that will leverage BT Broadband's Openreach Fiber to the Cabinet network, the provider said it will initially roll out the new service to subscribers that reside in Muswell Hill, London and Whitchurch, Cardiff. Due to the distance limitations of DSL, the provider said that about 95% of its customer base will be able to get the 40 Mbps capabilities. Consumers participating in the service will also be able to get 2 Mbps upload speeds.
 
If the 40-Mbps trial, which will start this month and conclude in January, proves to be successful, TalkTalk said it would extend the fiber-based service across its network.
 
Although participating consumers will have to pay usual line rental costs, they will get a new broadband router/modem along with TalkTalk's Essential broadband and home phone service suite.

BT and TalkTalk's drive for fiber-based DSL service follows similar efforts taking place in the U.S. by incumbent carrier Qwest Communications, which recently launched aVDSL2-based 40 Mbps/20 Mbps service.
 
This article originally appeared in FierceWireless: Europe