BT Openreach provides infrastructure for improved IP telephony set-up

Businesses in various parts of the UK will be in a position to add new and improved internet protocol (IP) telephony and other telecommunications devices to their system, thanks to Openreach's latest rollout.

The firm has announced it has added some 178 exchanges to its network of fibre-optic broadband.

With the majority of these set to go live in 2012, companies do not have too long to wait before they can take advantage, perhaps by running IP telephony solutions on the fast and efficient platform.

Openreach believes a total of 1.8 million homes and businesses will be in a position to enjoy the new fibre technology.

Olivia Garfield, chief executive officer of the organisation, explained progress has been rapid in its superfast broadband operation, with six million premises around the UK now able to access high-speed connections.

This figure is due to rise to ten million by the end of next year, she predicted, while two-thirds of the country should benefit from it by 2014.

"Our experience in deploying fibre networks at scale and the fact that our open, wholesale network allows competition to thrive in an area makes Openreach an ideal partner for local [and] regional broadband initiatives," Ms Garfield stated.

Firms in the UK using IP telephony solutions currently have to make do with an average internet speed of 6.8Mbps, but the Openreach offering creates connections of 40Mbps and it hopes to double this over the next year.

Among the projects currently being undertaken by the telecommunications provider is the upgrade of 17 locations in Cornwall to high-speed broadband.

Companies using broadband-based communications equipment around the UK have been boosted in recent days by an announcement from deputy prime minister Nick Clegg that some £100 million will be made available to cities to improve their links to the web.