Eclipse Broadband to trial 40Mbps speeds using FTTC technology

Internet service provider Eclipse Broadband has announced it is using BT's fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology to provide its customers with speeds of up to 40 megabits per second (Mbps).

Up to 60 of Eclipse's customers, including both business and home users, will be able to participate in the trial and the technology will be theirs to keep afterwards, reports BroadbandChoices.co.uk.

FTTC technology involves running next-generation fibre optic cabling to street-level cabinets where it connects to conventional copper wiring infrastructure for final delivery to the homes or businesses of individual users.

Clodagh Murphy, Eclipse director, told the website: "[BT's 21st Century Network] will provide our customers with an advanced and more reliable online experience, equipping our network to handle future broadband advancements."

Fibre optic cabling can help produce faster download speeds and more efficient VoIP hardware.

BT is also trialling fibre-to-the-premises technology, which involves running fibre cabling all the way to individual properties and could help deliver even faster connection speeds.