BT Upgrade to Usher in Faster Broadband by Next Summer

BT’s local network business Openreach is aiming to make superfast fibre broadband available to two-thirds of the UK premises by the end of 2014. And, the roll out is definitely in progress. BT has also come up with an additional plan, apart from the £2.5 billion roll-out.

BT has said 51 communities in the east of England, including Freethorpe, Harleston, East Harling, Burgh Castle, Downham Market, Holme Hale, Middleton, Sheringham, Aylsham and Brundall, will benefit from speeds up to 20 Mbps internet, with the next phase of its broadband upgrade via copper lines.

With the broadband upgrade, about 33,000 Norfolk homes and businesses will gain access to faster broadband services next summer. The extended network will be available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services, which means BT will act as a wholesaler in the upgraded areas.

Many parts of the UK, including Scotland and Wales, are all set to be benefited by BT’s broadband upgrade. More than six million UK premises already have access to BT’s faster broadband, according to Openreach. Olivia Garfield, CEO of Openreach, said the division is on track to pass ten million premises next year.

BT’s East of England regional director Dave Hughes said that BT’s roll-out of faster broadband across the East of England is running at a very rapid pace.

At a time of economic uncertainty, these major improvements will provide a big boost for local businesses and offer many additional educational and entertainment opportunities for local households, he added.