H2O Network is installing one it’s super fast fibre networks into the sewers of Sheffield. It will offer broadband speeds up to 100Mbps and is due for completeion by the end of September this year.

The network will be laid in a 15km ring around the city and is similar to existing H2O schemes already operating in Bournemouth and Dundee. They are planning to roll out fibre to around a dozen cities across the UK.

H2O will provide the infrastructure and will rely on internet service providers to offer the broadband service to consumers. So far there are no takers in Sheffield. Although the city is home to PlusNet, that ISP is owned by BT, and BT has it’s own plans for fibre.

BT is promising speeds of up to 40Mbps to around 40% of homes by 2012. It has a £1.5bn plan to install fibre to the familiar green cabinets on street corners. From there it’s down the old copper wire to the consumer. And that’s where the speed restriction comes in. You can only squeeze so much voice and data down last century’s copper wire.

Since most of us have sewer pipes coming into the home, the H2O solution, if rolled into the residence in the same way as existing cable services from the likes of Virgin Media, is clearly the way to go.
There is less disruption to the community while the fibre is being installed as no roads, pavements or front gardens need to be dug up.