An Australian PhD student claims to have developed a method for squeezing extra bandwidth out of ordinary copper lines. The improvement could extend the life of copper infrastructure, allowing it to deliver bandwidth at speeds in excess of 250 Mb/s. The technique is awaiting patent approval, but relies on mathematics to eliminate noise that interferes with downloading.

The technology could be installed directly into existing modems as a software upgrade. The technology would also require modification at the phone company's central office. The technology could be available to consumers in three to four years.

Unfortunately, the lag time between patenting and application will see most modem users disappear. There has been a sharp decline in the number of dial-up users, for which the technology is clearly designed. In three to four years, the market for dial-up Internet connectivity will be all but dead. The advance, if ever implemented, will be a reward for the die-hard dial-up users who have never advanced beyond 56K modem speed.