BT plans to double next-gen copper broadband

BT is planning to enable more exchanges with next generation copper broadband capabilities

As the government announces plans to levy a 'broadband tax' to fund next-gen optical fibre access, BT Wholesale today said it plans to double the size of its next-generation copper broadband operation by spring 2011.

The telecoms giant said its plans would give up to 20 million homes and businesses access to higher speed services that offer up to 24Mbit/s, as opposed to the current limit of 8Mbit/s.

BT Wholesale said that more than 40 per cent of UK homes and businesses are already served by exchanges enabled with next-generation broadband delivered over copper.

The expansion of the footprint will take this availability to 55 per cent by spring 2010 and then to around 75 per cent depending on customer demand, by spring 2011, it added.

“Today’s announcement is further evidence of BT’s commitment to deliver next-generation broadband services across the UK," said Cameron Rejali, managing director of products for BT Wholesale.

"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 added that BT plans to reduce the prices of its Wholesale Broadband Connect offering to communications providers from January 2010, with bandwidth charges being dropped by almost 50 per cent and rental costs "standardised at the lowest current price".