Broadband News
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BT will bring fibre to 90% of UK homes by 2017, if given public funding
12 Nov 2010 | 14.50 Europe/London
BT’s Chief Executive, Ian Livingston, claims the company could give fibre to 90% of UK homes by 2017 if it were given the £830m the Government has said can be taken from the BBC licence fee over the next seven years for broadband infrastructure projects.
Livingston claims the sum, if matched by BT, could bring help it roll out its fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) offering, BT Infinity, beyond the 16m homes its £2.5bn current investment is due to deliver by 2015. The current roll out favours big towns and major cities and so the additional money, if granted to BT, would be put in to give fibre to rural areas, Livingstone told the Financial Times (of London).
BT has made no secret of the fact that its current level of investment in fibre will not be increased unless it is matched by public funds and by putting a figure of 90% household penetration, BT is setting out its stall to receive the public funding windfall. Virgin Media, the residential fibre incumbent in the UK, is understood to also be interested in receive the public funds to widen its fibre network.
Livingston claims the sum, if matched by BT, could bring help it roll out its fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) offering, BT Infinity, beyond the 16m homes its £2.5bn current investment is due to deliver by 2015. The current roll out favours big towns and major cities and so the additional money, if granted to BT, would be put in to give fibre to rural areas, Livingstone told the Financial Times (of London).
BT has made no secret of the fact that its current level of investment in fibre will not be increased unless it is matched by public funds and by putting a figure of 90% household penetration, BT is setting out its stall to receive the public funding windfall. Virgin Media, the residential fibre incumbent in the UK, is understood to also be interested in receive the public funds to widen its fibre network.