Does BT have more superfast broadband plans?

Superfast broadband

CXO has reported previously that the competition between Virgin Media and BT over superfast broadband and the roll-out of optical fibre cables was heating up, but that BT were still lagging behind Virgin Media in terms of the roll-out. But now it appears that BT have plans to up their game in the superfast broadband stakes.

According to the article BT plans expansion of superfast broadband, BT will use the announcement of its full-year results to outline its plans to increase the expansion of its superfast broadband.

Ian Livingston, the chief executive of the company, is expected to say the UK's leading fixed-line phone company will expand the planned reach of the network from 40 percent of homes to 66 percent. The proposal is expected to increase the cost of the infrastructure beyond the existing budget ofGBP£1.5 billion.

Currently, Virgin Media's fibre optic broadband service is available to 55 percent of UK homes and offers maximum speeds of up to 50Mbps dependant on location, with no BT phone line required.

BT expanding infrastructure

The original plan, which was first outlined in 2008, was to run the infrastructure past 40 percent of homes by March 2013. In December,BT said it would complete the roll-out by mid-2012. But politicians are keen to see BT extend the infrastructure.

In January, when BT began selling high-speed Internet access to consumers, it outlined an aggressive pricing strategy in an effort to increase its market share as its competition was strong from Virgin.

BT's broadband market share is smaller than many of Europe's former fixed-line phone monopolies because competition with rivals is so fierce.

The plan to run the network past 66 percent of homes should also increase chances of striking wholesale deals with competitors.

Analysts said BT could struggle to make a return on its investment unless British Sky Broadcasting and TalkTalk, the telecoms company, sign deals to rent capacity on the infrastructure.

BT is confident that large numbers of consumers will want high-speed Internet access, partly because of the rising popularity of high-definition television and interactive gaming.

Virgin Media unveil new laptop

Virgin Media aren't one to be beaten in the technology stakes though. According to laptops.co.uk, Virgin Media has unveiled a new concept for a laptop, which has inbuilt fibre optic broadband technology.

British designer Alice Davies is believed to have created the new notebook for the company, who are known for investing in pioneering faster forms of broadband. The Virgin Media laptop is intended to be used as a teaching tool, and reportedly includes capabilities such asBluetooth connectivity and WiFi connectivity.

Rather than having to connect to the internet via temperamental USB dongles, the Virgin Media laptop concept includes a built in Virgin Media mobile broadband dongle, and also features an integratedwebcam.

Consumers willing to pay for superfast broadband

While a new study has found that 51.5 percent of UK consumers would pay extra for a next-generation superfast 100 Mbps broadband connection, even if they could already get a "reliable" connection speed of 10 Mbps, according to a survey by ISPreview.co.uk.

The same survey, conducted with 601 respondents, found that almost a quarter of consumers claim to need speeds of 50 Mbps or more, while 21 percent said the same about speeds of 20 Mbps, 19 percent reported needing speeds of 10 Mbps or more, and 17 percent would be happy surfing on an eight Mbps connection.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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