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BT set to trial ultra-fast broadband on Isle of Dogs
Residents on the Isle of Dogs are set to receive up to 100Mbps broadband speeds from BT.
Openreach, the telecoms giant's local access network business, is encouraging residents in West India Quay, Canary Riverside and Port East to take part in the project, reports the Wharf.
The fibre broadband links are due to be established in these London communities by March 2012, offering download speeds of up to 100Mbps and maximum upload capabilities of 10Mbps.
BT's decision to trial the fibre-to-the-home service on the Isle of Dogs comes as a major victory for local residents' groups, who have long campaigned for faster broadband connectivity in the area.
Despite its proximity to some of the capital's biggest businesses, the peninsula is currently stuck with the slowest broadband service in the whole of London, according to lobbyist Jane Hewland.
Ms Hewland, secretary of the 1WIQ community group representing people living above the Marriott West India Quay, insisted: "We've had appalling problems. In these high-rise buildings if you've got copper wire your broadband speeds are very slow.
"We made the breakthrough about six months ago and now it's all coming together."
Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Limehouse, said he is optimistic the problem of slow broadband on the Isle of Dogs will soon be a thing of the past.
"It has been an issue for some time due to the contrast of the businesses inside the Canary Wharf estate and those just outside," the Labour politician added.
Another telecoms firm trialling fibre optic broadband in high-rise blocks is KC, which recently delivered speeds of up to 80Mbps to the Great Thornton Street estate in Hull.
The pilot scheme covers five tower blocks in the area and is set to run for four months. Existing subscribers will be upgraded to the service for free.