BT has revealed an increase in the demand for high-speed internet access across the UK, which will help to speed-up its drive to bring broadband to 90% of homes and businesses.
The telecoms giant is to introduce 56 new exchanges into its broadband upgrade programme and plans to launch 500 new broadband exchanges over the coming months in response to the growing demand for faster internet connections.
Bruce Stanford, director of products at BT Wholesale, said: “A month ago we announced one million wholesale broadband connections and re-emphasised our commitment to deliver on broadband. We’re keeping our foot on the throttle by identifying new developments to increase the number of towns and villages within reach of broadband and push up the numbers of people choosing to sign up for broadband services.”
He continued: “Now we’re in a position where, if the demand is there, we can bring ADSL broadband to 90% of the UK. This rollout has been driven by local people and this announcement sets the way to bring broadband to exchanges serving more than 750,000 more homes and businesses.”
Earlier this year BT reduced the price of its broadband internet product, as part of wider initiative to promote the uptake of high-speed internet services in the UK.
A recent study from IDC confirmed that 2002 was a pivotal year for the European broadband market, with the number of high-speed internet connections and associated revenues increasing significantly (see Broadband Casts Its Net Across Europe).
