While just a few years ago BT was struggling with competitors appearing on a regular basis it would appear the company has now reinvented itself and is set to play a major role in the UK broadband market of the future. The ongoing development of BT’s fibre-optic network, which will be finished in 2012, will see more and more of the smaller UK broadband providers depending upon the company to deliver their services.
While the likes of Virgin Media and Sky have their own broadband networks available there is no doubt that BT is starting to dictate broadband prices and broadband speeds to those outside of the top league. However, there is significant competition between the likes of BT, Virgin Media and Sky, to name but a small number of the larger UK players, to ensure the UK retains a competitive edge and no one broadband provider can totally dominate the market.
Interestingly, BT has for some time been reporting significant numbers of customers returning after previously leaving to join some of the more specialist broadband players in the UK. As the larger broadband providers such as BT, Virgin Media and Sky continue to flex their financial muscle, life could become very difficult for the smaller operators in the UK who may be forced to merge or target specific niche markets.