BT expands 20Mbps broadband reach
BT says over 80 per cent of the UK will be able to access its 20Mbps copper broadband by the end of the year.


BT has pledged to extend its next generation copper broadband to 80 per cent of UK homes and businesses by the end of 2011.
The communications firm today announced an additional 20 million premises would have access to the service by the end of the year.
Currently, 15.5 million end user premises can gain access to BT's ADSL2+ copper broadband service, known as Wholesale Broadband Connect (WBC) - which can provide speeds of up to 20Mbps.
"WBC offers communications providers the ability to provide their broadband customers with greater control, choice and flexibility as well as higher speeds," said Cameron Rejali, managing director for products at BT Wholesale.
"It supports the growing demand for high-speed broadband access to a range of online services including TV, gaming online and multiple voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services."
Other communications providers can use BT's copper lines to offer services to customers.
Soon, other ISPs such as Sky and TalkTalk may be able to access them for cheaper, if Ofcom proposals for BT to lower unbundling prices go ahead.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Today, BT also announced 1,000 live fibre Ethernet nodes were active in the UK and it planned to have another 90 set up by the end of the year.
"BT's Ethernet deployment has advanced from an early adopter to a mainstream purchase for businesses looking for a cheaper, faster and more versatile single platform solution for their wide area networking or local area networking needs," Rejali added.
Read on for our chat with the person now in charge of BT's fibre broadband rollout, new Openreach chief executive (CEO) Olivia Garfield.
Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.
He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.
-
M&S suspends online sales as 'cyber incident' continues
News Marks & Spencer (M&S) has informed customers that all online and app sales have been suspended as the high street retailer battles a ‘cyber incident’.
By Ross Kelly
-
Manners cost nothing, unless you’re using ChatGPT
Opinion Polite users are costing OpenAI millions of dollars each year – but Ps and Qs are a small dent in what ChatGPT could cost the planet
By Ross Kelly
-
Equinix acquires BT's Irish data centers in €59 million deal
News As BT moves to an asset-light business model, Equinix looks to expand
By Emma Woollacott
-
BT just extended the PSTN switch-off deadline — here’s what you need to know
News BT described the move as a “revision”, citing a series of improvements to the wider PSTN switch-off programme
By George Fitzmaurice
-
BT misses key Huawei kit removal deadline, but the telco is “almost over the line”
News BT is still reliant on non-compliant Huawei equipment for 2G and 3G services
By Ross Kelly
-
Ofcom net neutrality update dismisses calls for big tech contributions
News Ofcom’s net neutrality stance has been criticized by some industry stakeholders
By Emma Woollacott
-
BT partners with HPE to deliver new global managed LAN service
News The latest collaboration combines BT’s connectivity expertise with HPE Aruba Networking’s latest LAN solutions
By Daniel Todd
-
Making the switch
Whitepaper Realise the benefits of IP technology ahead of the digital ‘switch-on’
By ITPro
-
BT and OneWeb succeed in "game changer" satellite connection trial
News Smaller businesses in rural areas could benefit from improvements to backhaul services using satellites, with speeds increasing by an order of magnitude
By Rory Bathgate
-
BT, Nokia crack four carrier aggregation on a 5G network in first for Europe
News The breakthrough marks the first successful use of such technology on a live network, and could lead to dramatic network improvements
By Rory Bathgate