BT broadband is set to expand coverage of its 24 Mb per second broadband package to over 75% of UK homes by the spring of 2011. This is a significant increase from the current 40% coverage and the original expectation of 55% coverage by 2011. In total the new target would allow British Telecom Broadband to cover over 20 million homes in the UK and place the company in an excellent position for the future.
However, this is just a stopgap between the current copper wire broadband network and the forthcoming fibre optic broadband network which is currently under construction in the UK. The increased 24 Mb per second speed is reached using the company’s next-generation 21CN technology which still relies upon copper wire connectivity. This will offer some respite to those in the UK who are currently struggling to reach double-digit speeds at a time when the sector is moving ahead very quickly.
British Telecom Broadband is entering a new phase of development having seen Ofcom lift the price restrictions which the company has been operating under since privatisation. There is no doubt that the next few years will see a significant increase in competition in the sector with BT broadband likely to be one of the main leaders.