Even as service providers in UK gear up to offer very high-speed broadband services popularly known as ‘superband’ but in reality atleast as of now the country has only 3000 such connections, reveals a new research from Point Topic.

Superband services promise speeds of 25 Mbps and above at mass-market prices. The networks are built using concepts such as on fibre to the street cabinet or to the home (FTTC or FTTH).

By current project plans announced by operators, 2 million homes will be covered by superband broadband services by the end of 2010 i.e. roughly 8% of total homes in the country. The research however considers only BT’s and alnet superband projects and does not takes into account Virgin Media’s cable network, which does not falls under next generation access (NGA) but is believed to be equally competing.

“We’ve identified seven which have got at least 30 homes actually connected,” explains Annelise Berendt who leads the research for Point Topic. “Between them they had about 1700 lines by the end of last year, while BT accounted for another 1300 or so.”

Some little-known names have been at forefront of bringing fibre all the way to the home, exploiting the opportunities provided by new housing developments.  They include Independent Fibre Networks (IFNL) in Corby, Swindon and Andover, IsRightHere in Liverpool and Chelsea, and Velocity1 in Wembley.  H2O Fibrecity has been using sewage pipes as one route for fibering-up Bournemouth.

BT is expected to emerge as market leader in this segment.