[ian@huth]

Is it set in stone that cables must be buried? Are there any areas where cables are above ground like telephone cables?

Many years ago I lived in Birstall, West Yorkshire (my birthplace) and the area was cabled above ground by Reddifusion (I think). Don't know what happened to that system. In the same area now NTL have cabled part of a large estate but most of it is uncabled. Could they not finish the job off by above ground cabling which must be far cheaper to provide.