BT to double copper broadband network audience

Broadband

BT has announced plans to double the number of people its next generation copper broadband reaches by 2011.

The company's Wholesale division wants to offer broadband speeds of 24Mbps to 20 million homes and businesses. It currently provides for 40 per cent but aims to hit 55 per cent by spring 2010 and 75 per cent by spring 2011, depending on customer demand.

The company also plans to reduce prices for other communications companies to take advantage of the network.

Cameron Rejali, managing director of Products at BT Wholesale, said in a statement: "By expanding the footprint and reducing wholesale prices, we are helping communications providers deliver faster speeds to more customers, essential benefits in the tough economic and competitive environment we face today."

This move continues BT's investment into broadband infrastructure following trials of high-speed broadband that began in London, Wales and Scotland this summer.

Read our feature on the rollercoaster ride that has been BT's last year here.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.