BT puts more exchanges closer to broadband readiness

BT puts more exchanges closer to broadband readiness
[MacUser] 12:52

BT Wholesale has cut some of the trigger-levels for ADSL-enabling local exchanges. Such exchanges will now have lower registration targets in BT's broadband-ometer scheme, which tests local demand for fast Internet access.
Paul Reynolds, CEO at BT Wholesale, said: 'This is another significant step in making broadband more widely available.'

The maximum trigger levels for the exchanges is now 550. Additionally, the company will set trigger levels for the first time at a further 87 exchanges - starting work on 22 of them immediately to upgrade them to ADSL.

Ostensibly, one of the reasons for accelerating the roll-out is that BT's engineers have learned how to do it. Said Reynolds: 'Our growing experience of the actual work involved now allows us to be confident in lowering many of the demand levels at which we will upgrade exchanges for broadband.'

The news follows announcements from BT Wholesale last year that it would streamline the trigger-level scheme, so that work would begin on upgrading as soon as registrations of interest had reached the target level without waiting for confirmation of orders. BT Wholesale has also waived its activation fee until 31 March.

A table (in pdf format) of exchanges, on which upgradiong work has now started, is available here.

Matt Whipp