BT given green-light for super-fast broadband roll-out

British Telecom (BT) is this week expected to go ahead with its high-speed broadband network roll-out after receiving favourable conditions from telecoms regulator Ofcom.

The telecoms giant has signalled its intention to invest £1.5 billion in a new super-fast broadband network to reach ten million homes.

Using a mix of Fibre to the Premise and Fibre to the Cabinet fibre optics, some homes will get access to broadband up to 20 times the current average with a maximum attainable speed of 100Mbps.

However, the firm has been reluctant to proceed until receiving assurances that it would be able to recoup some of the money it will invest, especially considering its recent financial worries.

Following weeks of negotiation, Ofcom has finally agreed terms enabling BT to make a return on its investment.

In exchange for making network capacity available for other providers on a wholesale basis, the telecoms giant will be able to make a profit on this business.

Virgin Media recently unveiled plans to upgrade all its 2Mbps customers to a 10Mbps service, which has been made possible by its recent network roll-out.