BT To Double Next Generation Broadband Coverage

BT (www.BT.com) has announced plans to double its next generation copper broadband coverage by Spring 2011, making speeds up to 24Mbps available to 75% of UK homes and businesses.
The company’s current copper broadband network covers 99% of UK homes & businesses and offers speeds up to 8Mbps.
The roll out of its next generation copper broadband network, which involves putting ADSL 2+ technology into each exchange, will boost speeds to up to 24Mbps whilst also increasing speeds on very slow lines.
BT also revealed that it was reducing the wholesale broadband prices it charges providers like the Post Office and Vodafone in order to encourage the take up of its next generation copper broadband.
Commenting on the news, Cameron Rejali, Managing Director, Products, BT Wholesale said, “Today’s announcement is further evidence of BT’s commitment to deliver next generation broadband services across the UK. By expanding the footprint and reducing wholesale prices, we are helping communications providers deliver faster speeds to more customers, essential benefits in the tough economic and competitive environment we face today”.
Rejali also continued by saying, “We plan to reduce WBC prices to communications providers from January 2010 with bandwidth charges being dropped by almost 50 per cent and WBC rental costs standardised at the lowest current price, too”.
News of the roll out of BT’s next generation copper broadband network complements BT’s super-fast fibre optic based broadband strategy which aims to offer speeds up to 40Mbps to 40% of UK households by 2012.