The UK’s hesitant march toward next-gen broadband is given some impetus by a promise from media regulator Ofcom to “support rapid and widespread investment in superfast broadband” and “stimulate competition” in the broadband market. In a report on “delivering super-fast broadband” released today, Ofcom plans to allow BT (NYSE: BT), which currently wholesales its copper-line network to other ISPs, to also share its new high-speed fibre optic lines. Those fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) lines are currently being used in trials of speeds up to 100 Mpbs, never mind the 50Mbps service Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED) launched last year. Ofcom wants to shake up the rules agreed with BT in 2005 on its relationship with other companies consultation now begins on that.
Half of British homes will have access to VMED’s 50Mbps service by the end of the year while BT will being expanding a 40Mbps service to 40 percent of the population in January next year. Ofcom is pleased about this but admits that “how far private sector investment will meet the UK
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