Early FTTP customer reports 77Mbps download speeds

The first customer on BT Broadband's latest 100Mbps fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) trials has reported real-world download speeds as high as 77Mbps.

The unnamed user a customer of the BT-owned Plusnet ISP, ran a speed test shortly after being switched to the direct fibre-optic line, and apart from the headline download figure, also reported upload speeds of 15Mbps the theoretical maximum Plusnet is allowing.

Plusnet's affiliation with BT gives it access to the telecoms network's FTTP trial programme, currently underway in Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes and Highams Park, London, with further locations to follow in coming weeks.

So far 65 of its customers have signed up to take part, with most seeing download speeds of over 30Mbps and upload speeds above 6Mbps.

"For those with speeds under 2Mbps-3Mbps on DSL the difference will be huge," Plusnet's Dave Tomlinson wrote on the company blog.

"Where in the past they may have struggled to watch online video, for example, they can now watch iPlayer HD with ease and also download files at the same time and have someone else in the household play games or watch another HD stream at the same time."

The BT Wholesale trials, which have been delayed for six months, will be underway in a total of 40,000 premises by the time two additional areas in Leytonstone, East London, and York are added to the existing two.

Unlike the existing copper infrastructure, the connection speed over FTTP does not fall away the further you get from the exchange a problem that continues to prevent many rural homes from being able to access broadband while it also isn't restricted to copper's theoretical maximum of 24Mbps using ADSL2+.