100Mbps broadband to be delivered via our sewers?
It's well documented that the UK is lagging behind most of the world in terms of broadband speed.
Though BT and Virgin Media are rolling out high speed networks of their own, they are so far limited in availability and costly in install.
Virgin Media, who's cable network is laid down by digging up roads, is an extremely expensive and lengthy procedure.
Aware of such problems, Elfed Thomas, managing director of H2O Networks, came up with an idea some years ago for a simple yet certain solution; use our sewer system instead.
"We had this big infrastructure problem in the UK and we had this existing ducting and I just thought why can't we use the sewers," he told the BBC.
"There is no reason why this can't be deployed throughout the UK. To roll out a networking deploying fibre over a 2km area would be six to 12 months in the planning. We can do it physically in four hours," he added.
Now, a few years on from Mr Thomas' initial idea, H2O networks are rolling out its Focus (Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer) network in various areas and either Bournemouth, Northampton or Dundee will be first offered the service.
Could the UK’s 360,000 mile waste water network be the means to cheaper and faster connections for us all?
Universities in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Bournemouth are already utilising H2O networks' fibre connections with speeds of up to 20Gbps whilst council offices around the UK are also lining up to take advantage of the super fast broadband.
Having spent the past few years convincing water companies to agree to allow their sewer systems to be used for the fibre networks, it now seems a realistic prospect for better broadband throughout the country.
Official H2O Networks website: h2o-networks.uk.net
