Fibrestream boss backs fibre broadband over power lines

Fibrestream boss Guy Jarvis has given his support to rumoured plans to trial the use of power lines to support fibre optic broadband cables.

Mr Jarvis claimed a test run of the technology is currently being considered by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), the body established by the government to achieve its policies on the rollout of improved internet services.

Writing on the official Fibrestream blog, he insisted the proposals would provide "some useful benefit" from the £530 million of BBC licence fee money made available to BDUK.

"Such trials might help accelerate and establish a common national distribution network operator process and cost structure for the widespread use of fibre wrapped around existing electricity wires," Mr Jarvis commented.

Telegraph poles have already been used by some of the country's biggest internet service providers as a means to boost internet speeds in some areas.

In March 2010, Virgin Media announced a "pioneering" trial that used these lines to deliver up to 50Mbps broadband to the village of Woolhampton in Berkshire.