VoIP News: October 2009

A specific band of radio spectrum should be set aside throughout Europe to ease the development of mobilebroadband connectivity, according to the European Commission (EC). The EC believes the 790 to 862 megahertz band should be part of the spectrum reserved for this purpose so that mobilebroadband communications can be standardised across the continent, potentially making applications such as VoIP solutions more efficient.

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey said the implementation of a broadband tax should not be necessary to help fund the development of next-generation networks. The government recently announced plans to impose a £6-a-year tax on every home with a telephone line before the next general election in order to raise money for next-generation broadband and assist with its universal connectivity policy.

Connection speeds of up to 48 megabits per second (Mbps) are on offer from internet service provider (ISP) ADSL24 using unbundled ADSL2+ technology. Customers could access the faster connections as a result of the ISP linking two telephone lines that each provides speeds of up to 24Mbps, in the process doubling the potential rate of the service, reports ISPreview. co.

Internet service provider (ISP) Zen Internet is to offer speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) to its nearly 100,000 customers by using BT's 21st Century Network (21CN). The ISP previously offered speeds of up to 8Mbps, but will use the 21CN to offer ADSL2+ faster services that could help elevate download times and provide better use of VoIP solutions. Zen's existing customers will be migrated to the new platform at a rate of around 3,000 a month, although a range of factors such as how far users are from their nearest telephone exchange and the quality of their domestic wiring will impact on the actual speeds they receive.

The government's universal connectivity target of two megabits per second (Mbps) is already too slow several years before it is due to be attained, according to ISPreview. co. uk.