Plusnet hits top speeds of 76Mbps on FTTC broadband trial

Plusnet has revealed maximum speeds of around 76Mbps have been achieved during the trial of its forthcoming up to 80Mbps fibre optic broadband service.

The product is based on fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology, meaning fibre optic cables are run to the street cabinet, which is then connected to individual properties via copper wires.

As a result, it is subject to the same limitations as other DSL solutions, in that the distance between the cabinet and the home or business will determine the download and upload rates that can be achieved.

Dave Tomlinson of the Plusnet product team explained: "As such, we have seen sync speeds vary from the mid-50s all the way up to the full 80Mbps, with a mean speed of about 68Mbps."

Earlier this month, Point Topic predicted hybrid fibre broadband technologies such as FTTC will enjoy significant growth in subscriber numbers over the coming years.

Oliver Johnson, chief executive of Point Topic, said these solutions are a cost-effective way to deliver high speeds to end users.