Virgin to use BT lines for super-fast service
October 8, 2010
Virgin Media will use BT’s telegraph poles to extend the reach of its high-speed network, following the Ofcom ruling that requires BT to open up its infrastructure to rivals.
It is believed the move could enable Virgin Media to expand its network from around 12 million homes to around 16 million homes over the next few years.
Communications regulator Ofcom just announced plans to compel BT to open up its network infrastructure to rivals. That would allow other Internet service providers to use BT’s telegraph poles and underground ducts to run fibre cables to homes, and would substantially reduce the cost of rolling out next-generation, high-speed broadband networks. It would also help to deliver reliable broadband internet to rural areas.
“This is an important step that rightly focuses on opening up areas of the country not already served by super-fast broadband, removing one of the hurdles that make such developments near impossible at present,” said Virgin Media.