Copper wire capable of 50Mb/s, says Ofcom

According to an investigation by Ofcom, the UK’s copper telecom cables should theoretically be capable of delivering broadband speeds of up to 50Mbits per second.

The communications watchdog was seeking to discover when the current network would no longer be sufficient to meet expectations of UK consumers – who are increasingly using bandwidth heavy applications.

If the DSL modems are hosted in the exchange, speeds of 50Mbit/s could theoretically be reached by households within 2km of the exchange (approximately 18% of the total number of households).

However, Ofcom stresses that “These results are theoretical and do not reflect what could be achieved in practice.” This is because of a number of variables, such as the wiring in the individual’s home, which would affect the end speed.

“Nevertheless the real value of this study is to suggest an upper limit, given all technical progress possible, of 50Mbit/s, with fibre to the cabinet.