Hyperoptic debuts 1 Gbps FTTP service in London

Hyperoptic has kept to its promise to launch its 1 Gbps Fiber to the Premises (FTTP)-based service this month in London with plans to extend the service to additional UK-based cities in 2012.  

Residents and businesses that reside in these respective MDUs will be able to choose two speed and pricing tiers: the Hyper-lite 20 Mbps broadband connection for £12.50 ($19.83), or the Hyper-sonic 1 Gbps service for £50 ($79) a month.

Hyperoptic FTTP 1 Gbps

Detailing a MDU fiber install. (Screengrab: Hyperoptic.com

By comparison, Virgin Media's 100 Mbps broadband data service costs £35 ($56) per month, while BT's up-to-40 Mbps Infinity service comes in at £28 ($44) per month including line rental.

"There is a preconception that fiber optic is expensive and therefore cannot be made available to consumers," Hyperoptic's managing director Dana Tobak said in a statement. "At the same time, the UK is effectively lagging in our rate of fiber broadband adoption, holding us back in so many ways--from an economic and social perspective. Our pricing shows that the power of tomorrow can be delivered at a competitive and affordable rate."

But while 1 Gbps service sounds compelling, there is a bit of a catch: It's only available only to select multi-dwelling units (MDU). A Hyperoptic spokeswoman said that a property manager has to sign up to get the service and then each resident needs lobby their fellow MDU neighbors to agree to a building-wide deployment.

For more:
- see the news release
- ZDNet has this article

Related articles:
UK-based Hyperoptic to offer 1 Gbps FTTP service
UK's Be Broadband launches 40-plus Mbps bonded DSL service
BT is fulfilling its Fiber to the X dreams