26/02/2002

BT unveil plans to reduce the cost of broadband services

British Telecom has unveiled cuts in the cost of broadband internet services in the UK.

The company plan to cut the cost of wholesale broadband access for internet service providers from £25 to £14.75 from April 1.

Announcing the cuts BT chief executive Ben Verwaayen said: "Broadband is the future for Britain and we're putting it at the heart of BT's plans for growth in the UK mass market. This will drive the whole market forward by making broadband affordable, attractive and accessible."

Mr Verwaayen revealed BT's plans to target one million asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) broadband connections over BT's network by summer 2003, by:



  • Cutting wholesale line rental for consumer connections from £25 to £14.75 a month, from April 1


  • Improving the experience of BT's wholesale customers and end-users through better network performance and service quality


  • Boosting marketing, including joint projects between BT Wholesale and more than 40 service providers, to champion the benefits of broadband


  • Encouraging all service providers, including BTopenworld, to use the wholesale saving to set new prices for consumers and businesses and to mount their own campaigns to promote broadband


  • Searching for partnerships to extend broadband to less commercially viable areas




Paul Reynolds, CEO of BT Wholesale added: "We have now achieved the price that service providers told us they needed to get end user prices below £30. We have made sustained improvements in network service levels in recent months and are taking action on automation to help service providers to improve the customer experience even further.

Mr Reynolds added that he expects these new low prices to drive up demand for broadband.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 August 2011
Guarded NI Welcome For 'Broader Internet Access'
The Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed additional money to help get NI firmly on the Internet highway - but has also said that it falls short of the level of help expected.
20 November 2018
Businesses Encouraged To Take Advantage Of Broadband Voucher
Businesses are being encouraged to make use of the government's £2500 voucher for gigabit broadband speeds before the scheme closes due to high demand. More than 7000 UK businesses and surrounding homes have already taken advantage of the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which launched in March 2018.
25 September 2018
Businesses Invited To Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme Event
Businesses in Newry, Mourne and Down in need of a faster broadband connection are being invited to find out how the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) can help. Following the launch of the UK Government's nationwide £67 million GBVS earlier this year, the scheme is now available in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.
30 April 2010
Faster Broadband Connections Onstream
Customers of Belfast-based Rainbow Telecom are set to benefit from free superfast broadband. The company is the first in Northern Ireland to state its pricing structure ahead of the roll-out of next generation superfast broadband by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, (DETI) due to be completed by May 2011.
11 January 2010
New Broadband Technology For NI Rural Areas
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a further £88,000 for technology trials, to improve broadband services in rural areas across the country. The financial support, from the £1.9million Broadband Fund, has been awarded to two companies, H2O Ireland Limited and North West Electronics.