BT Openreach to launch 300Mbit/s service in early 2012 as part of broadband overhaul

BT Openreach has announced a number of updates to its broadband portfolio, including a 300Mbit/s service that BT Retail and other service providers will be able to offer from spring 2012.

Openreach will also launch a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) product offering 110Mbit/s downloads and 15Mbit/s uploads, or 100Mbit/s downloads and 30Mbit/s uploads.

The services will initially be available in Ashford in Middlesex, Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes, Highams Park in north London, Chester South, St Austell in Cornwall and York as BT assesses demand for the higher speed connections.

BT confirmed to V3 that prices for the 110Mbit/s FTTP product have already been sent to providers, and orders can be placed from 31 October. The firm was unable to confirm where the 300Mbit/s services will be available.

BT also confirmed that it has been given permission by the Network Interoperability Consultative Committee to double the speed of its fibre-to-the-cabinet offering from 40Mbit/s to 80Mbit/s.

James Allen, a partner at Analysys Mason, told V3 the ability to offer up to 80Mbit/s connections was the most significant aspect of BT's announcements and would help it compete with Virgin for high-end services.

"BT obviously managed to demonstrate to the NICC that it could update the frequency strength of delivering its product at up to 80Mbit/s without adversely affecting the signal quality of other services in its cabinets," he said.

"It will now allow BT Retail to enhance its Infinity offering and takes some of the bragging rights away from Virgin Media's 100Mbit/s service too."

Communications minister Ed Vaizey welcomed the announcements as another vital step in ensuring that UK businesses can benefit from fast internet connections.

"High-speed broadband is essential for economic growth, which is why we want the UK to have the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015. Improving the UK's broadband infrastructure will help our high-tech digital industries to grow," he said.

The new services will allow BT to compete directly with Virgin Media, which is already offering 100Mbit/s services in the UK and has rolled out hardware to support connections of up to 400Mbit/s.

The announcements come a week after the Advertising Standards Authority issued new guidance on broadband advertising, stipulating that at least 10 per cent of customers must be able to achieve the speeds promised by internet service providers.