BT accelerates superfast broadband plans

UK TELECOMS GIANT BT has accelerated plans to make 'superfast' broadband available to two-thirds of UK homes by 2014, a year ahead of its orginal 2015 target.

According to the Financial Times, the firm will recruit another 520 engineers to ensure that the project hits homes in time. It will help with the Government's plans to make the UK have the best broadband network in Europe by 2015 as the EU pushes to provide subsidies in the rest of Europe so it can meet its own targets.

Originally, BT had planned to reach the target of two-thirds of homes by 2015, committing £300m over the next few years to fund the accelerated rollout. It is part of a total investment of £2.5bn BT is making in commercial fibre broadband.

Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, the Olympics, media and sport, was understandably happy about BT's news, saying that 'superfast' broadband will allow UK businesses to develop new products and services.

Earlier this month, The INQUIRER reported that BT is readying a fibre connection service that could bring speeds of up to 300Mbits/s to homes and businesses.

The firm has started the initial rollout of what it calls its Fibre to the Premises offering with speeds of around 110Mbits/s, and higher speeds promised for early next year. µ