NTL sets wireless broadband loose in London

NEWS NTL is expecting to launch its wireless broadband internet access trials in areas of west London this week. The company is seeking 1,000 lucky trialists to put up receivers for the service. Installations are scheduled to start this week, but NTL is still looking for more guinea pigs in some areas. The trial is due to end in late November, and NTL is not committed to rolling out the technology on a commercial basis. A spokesman described it as "purely a proof of concept study". However, Clive Hillier, senior consultant at Schema believes the trial may prove attractive: "I am quite positive about the technology. I think it does have the capacity to allow NTL to extend the reach of their cable infrastructure." He claims NTL will be able to get prices down to the £30-per-month region, which is the current price for DSL and cable broadband access. The service uses the 10GHz waveband, for which NTL has a nationwide licence. This gives each mast the ability to reach sites within 10km. The data rates are 512kbps upstream and 128kbps downstream. Fixed wireless has been widely touted as a way to bring high-speed internet access to homes and small businesses. However, the service has taken a long time to roll out, largely because funding for telecoms projects is extremely thin on the ground. Last year the government held an auction of licences in the 28GHz waveband, which produced disappointing results - Only 16 of the 42 available licences were awarded, with just £38.2m raised. Corus, Energis and Norweb were among the successful bidders.