With the news that Be is shortly to offer 24Mbit/s broadband over BT lines come some consequences.
For example, the new high data rate is available only to those that happen to live within a relatively short hop from an upgraded exchange, dividing the country into those that can have the service and those that can’t.
As the difference between broadband haves and have nots continues to climb, Sneak wonders if estate agents will begin to take note.
Will their already bizarre descriptions of potential home purchases gain a new quirk, describing broadband availability alongside notes advising of desirable local schools, a sunny aspect, or prospects for improvement. Claims that a property “lies in a very favourable location with respect to the local BT exchange” could become commonplace.
Staying on the same runaway train of thought, Sneak wonders if BT realises it is sitting on a property development goldmine. What better place to build a series of delightful, bijou flats than over the top of its existing exchange buildings?

29 Sep 2005