Sky Broadband upgrades core network to 100Gbps

Sky has today announced the rollout of what is claimed to be the UK's first 100Gbps core broadband network, as the firm copes with "strong uptake" of its services.

The network, installed between London and Birmingham, uses Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology capable of transferring data at a speed of seven Tera bits per second, ten times faster than most current networks.

Sky said that the technology means that all of its 4.6 million broadband users could watch a streamed high definition movie at the same time.

The company has been busy investing in an all-fibre core network for its broadband services, building on the infrastructure it acquired as part of the purchase of internet service provider Easynet in 2005.

Sky offloaded the corporate arm of Easynet earlier in the year but retained the network infrastructure to bolster its growing consumer broadband services division.

DWDM allows for greater capacity in fibre optic lines, ensuring a more consistent and reliable internet experience for Sky Broadband customers.

Sky intends to roll out 100Gbps DWDM technology to five other areas in the UK, as the firm copes with a sharp increase in its broadband customers.

The company added 683,000 broadband subscribers in the year to the end of September, placing a heavy load on its network infrastructure due to demand for data, particular after the launch of the IP-based Sky Anytime+ video on-demand service a year ago and multi-platform service Sky Go this summer.

Sky said that it has seen an average growth in data usage of 60% per customer in the year to September and expects that to double across its network by June 2012, when the firm will be managing 700Gb per second.

Since March 2011, Sky has added extra capacity in 970 exchanges and expects the number of its unbundled exchanges to rise by around 200 by January 2012, to 1,932.

Unbundled exchanges involve other providers such as Sky or TalkTalk using BT's infrastructure to deliver their own services to customers.

Sky broadband and talk commercial director Jon Blumberg said that new network infrastructure was essential to handle the growing demand for "data-rich content".

"With the rapid adoption of services such as Sky Anytime+ and Sky Go, our customers are streaming and downloading more than ever before, as well as watching record levels of traditional TV," he said.

"Sky Broadband really was built with entertainment in mind and the network innovations we're announcing today will make sure we're in good shape to continue to satisfy the demands of our customers.

"It's fitting that we can use the former pathways to industrial prosperity for the purposes of a modern equivalent of this super highway."

Next year, Sky is also expected to start pushing its UK WiFi network acquired as part of the deal to buy The Cloud earlier in the year, including greater usability with Sky Go.

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