BT: Next-generation roll-out to be completed by 2012

Major internet service provider (ISP) BT has announced it is to speed up its roll-out of next-generation broadband services to ensure it is complete by the time the Olympic Games start in 2012.

The ISP announced earlier this year it would be investing £1.5 billion in fibre optic networks covering 40 per cent of the UK and delivering speeds as high as 100 megabits per second.

Work was originally scheduled to be completed by 2013, but the company now says it is making good progress and is able to bring its target date forward to the same year that the government has pledged to deliver universal connectivity.

Ian Livingston, chief executive officer of BT, said: "Given the progress we're making, four million homes will have access to fibre by the end of next year."

He added that he plans to enable ten million homes to have access to the next-generation network by the time the Olympic Games begin in the summer of 2012.

High-speed broadband can help users download media content more quickly and use VoIP hardware efficiently.