Remember the Interstitial Plate (I-Plate) that BT Wholesale hoped would improve broadband performance?
Well, some seven months after its unveiling, it's now rolling out to UK ISPs who will then be able to offer the device to customers suffering below-par broadband performance.
The I-Plate itself is a patent-pending device that filters out electrical interference in the home. BT claims that interference from equipment such as televisions and lighting can slow down a user's broadband speed and that its I-Plate could go a long way toward alleviating the problem.
Previous I-Plate trials have produced promising results, with benefits including improved speeds and stability. On average, BT states that an I-Plate-filtered line will deliver a broadband speed increase of up to 1.5MB/s - though, performance improvements cannot be guaranteed.
So, what do you need to do in order to get one and how does it work? Well, BT is shipping out I-Plates to UK ISPs as of today, and it expects ISPs to offer the device to customers in the coming weeks. In order to qualify, you'll need a BT NTE 5 master socket and extension wiring in your home.
Once obtained, the I-Plate is easily fitted between the front and back plate of your master telephone socket. Here, it'll isolate the bell wire and prevent it from picking up the interference known to have a knock-on effect on broadband signals.
Cameron Rejali, managing director of products and services at BT Wholesale, said:
The launch of the I-Plate is another example of BT’s drive to deliver enhanced broadband services to UK homes. Most consumers are unaware of the impact that faulty TVs, fluorescent lighting and home wiring can have on their broadband performance. The I-Plate can help solve this, depending on the level of electrical interference within the home, delivering faster speeds, greater stability and bringing high quality IPTV to more consumers.
We're eager to see real-word performance figures, but it sounds a promising interim solution before the super-fast broadband arrives in 2012. If you're really struggling for broadband speed, there's also the costly BT Broadband Accelerator.
Official press release: UK homes to get more out of broadband with BT's I-Plate innovation
