Broadband

Be Unlimited have this morning announced plans to expand their network by nearly 400 exchanges within the next four months. This represents a 50% increase in their exchange footprint and will give them the second largest LLU network in the UK. Their 1245 unbundled exchanges will be trumped only by TalkTalk’s 1645. Be’s network of unbundled exchanges is also utilised by O2 (their parent company) to provide a discounted broadband product to their mobile subscribers.

It’s particularly good to see Be moving beyond their traditional target areas too. Northern Ireland, South Wales, the South West of England and further areas around Glasgow are all benefiting from the new roll out. People who have recently been migrated to the new Haydon Wick exchange in Swindon should also be pleasantly surprised that their exchange is getting it’s first LLU operator.

Despite the fact that Be expanded out of London nearly two years ago, there still seems to be the belief (at least amongst the non-techie people I speak to) that they’re only available in London. Hopefully if this new roll out gets enough publicity it will help quell such misconceptions.

Be’s claim that they will become the “most widespread ADSL2+ network in the country” does of course presume that Sky and Cable & Wireless (the other two major ADSL2+ networks) do not increase their roll out in kind. All of the major LLU operators have been sluggish in their roll out lately, which is perhaps a sign of the “credit crunch” fears spreading to the telecoms market, or it could simply be that BT Openreach’s increasing 21CN commitments has stretched their resources even thinner than usual.

Nonetheless, users hoping to get Be’s services in their area should be heartened by this news as it shows that they are still very much actively expanding their network.

The list of the new exchanges can be found here.

Tags: Be Unlimited, BT Openreach, Cable & Wireless, Sky, Talk Talk