TalkTalk to buy up portion of BT broadband service

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TalkTalk is set to take advantage of BT’s broadband investments by becoming the first internet service provider (ISP) in the UK to purchase a fibre service from the telecoms giant.

The ISP confirmed to IT PRO it had conducted trials with BT in order to test out what the offering could do for its customers and as a result was ready to put its money on the table.

The chief executive (CEO) of TalkTalk, Charles Dunstone, also told the Financial Times the company was “working on a commercial launch” for the service, which would allow the company to raise its speeds.

The news comes on the same day telecoms regulator Ofcom released a statement confirming its positive position on opening up BT’s super fast broadband network to other providers, in an attempt to increase competition and ensure better connections for more customers across the UK.

Ofcom said: “We consider that the decisions we are taking today, and the regulatory products that will be available to BT's competitors as a result, are consistent with the Government's approach to encouraging the roll-out of next generation broadband.”

Matthew Howett, lead analyst at Ovum, welcomed the move.

“Ofcom’s final regulatory statement for next-generation access networks in the UK is both pragmatic and predictable,” he said.

“It is a well designed framework which takes into account the network infrastructure being deployed by BT across the UK and should allow sufficient scope for alternative operators looking to invest to gain access to BT’s network.”

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