BT claims fibre roll-out ahead of schedule

BT hopes to have the rollout completed by the London Olympics in 2012

BT has announced that it is ahead of schedule with its rollout of fibre services in the UK, and now expects to be finished in time for the London Olympics in 2012.

The company had expected the rollout to be completed by 2013, but has since revised that date after the initial stages had progressed faster than anticipated and are now "several months ahead of schedule".

BT chief executive Ian Livingstone said in a statement that the progress meant that around four million homes would have access to the new fibre by the end of 2010.

He added that, as 2012 will be a key year for the UK with the Olympics, the company is keen to provide the estimated 10 million homes with fibre before the games begin.

Livingston also called on the government to make clear the level of future subsidies that will be made available for the broadband network infrastructure.

"We need politicians to decide how much of a priority fibre broadband is at the moment," he said. "We are planning to invest large sums in this area, but we can only go so far with our shareholders' money."

Livingston cited the examples of the US, France and Australia, where plans for broadband had been more fully outlined, and said that it is important that the UK does the same.

The new super-fast broadband rollout is expected to cover 40 per cent of the population, mostly towns and cities, and cost BT an estimated £1.5bn as it goes head to head with Virgin Media.