Virgin Media will roll out fibre optic broadband over BT poles

UK INTERNET PROVIDER Virgin Media is going to offer its broadband service over British Telecom (BT) optical fibre that could even hang from poles.

BT must still be smarting since Ofcom forced the telco to unbundle its monopolised loop for the competition. Now, years in the making, other companies are finally getting the chance to roll out fibre optics after doing the same with standard broadband connections.

According to the Financial Times, Virgin Media will be putting up a 'superfast' broadband service and will be doing it over telephone poles, which BT could use for its fibre optic cables.

The move comes after UK communications regulator Ofcom nagged BT to open its fibre optic lines. The INQUIRER reported yesterday that Ofcom's chief executive, Ed Richards said, "Ofcom has finalised a clear regulatory framework to promote investment, competition and innovation to enable as many consumers as possible to benefit from these exciting new services."

Virgin Media previously asked ex-monopoly BT if it could gain access to the telco's communications infrastructure, but BT wouldn't budge an inch. Now with added pressure from Ofcom, BT has grudgingly opened up its ducts and poles.

A spokesperson at Virgin Media told the Financial Times that BT finally did the right thing, saying, "This is an important step that rightly focuses on opening up areas of the country not already served by super-fast broadband, removing one of the hurdles that make such developments near impossible at present."

The news comes as Talktalk has also announced that it plans to roll out broadband over BT poles. The INQUIRER reported yesterday that Talktalk said it will offer the service in the future. µ