In a recent conversation with an equity analyst examining bandwidth markets, the issue of bandwidth pricing came up early and often. He wanted to know whether bandwidth trends would continue on their present downward slope, both in the backbone and in the access network. Everyone, it seems, believes the “more bits, less bucks” trends will continue.

 

As an example, BT (News - Alert) Ireland has activated a new fiber-reinforced access network that will triple broadband access speeds up to 24Mbps to households and businesses across the country, after recently upping speeds to 8 Mbps in parts of Dublin, Kildare and Limerick. BT director Emer Kennedy says he hopes the new next generation network will “radically shake up” the market, tripling broadband speeds without increasing prices.