BT to let consumer demand shape superfast broadband

BT is hoping to let consumer demand play a leading role in shaping where it builds its superfast broadband network in the UK.

The telecoms company is appealing to communities to go online and register their interest in getting connected to BT's high speed network. Five areas that demonstrate strong demand for superfast broadband are guaranteed to see the infrastructure run past their homes and offices by 2012. BT is spending £2.5bn on an optical fibre network that is due to reach 17m homes and small businesses by 2015. The network will mainly run past homes and offices in towns and cities. BT has already identified the locations of 7m homes that will be able to use the infrastructure. However, BT has not pinpointed the locations of the other 10m homes that could benefit from the network. BT's planned online survey of householders and businesses could therefore influence the future shape of the company's network.