BT is increasing the rate at which is it rolling out its super-fast broadband network to make sure that it is up and running by the time London plays host to the Olympic Games in 2012.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Ian Livingston, chief executive of the company, said that it requires clarification from the government as to whether there would be subsidisation to ensure that the network becomes a piece of nationwide infrastructure.

Last year, BT stated it could take until March 2013 to create the new urban-focused optical fibre network, which the publication noted it is under pressure from Labour and the Conservatives to develop.

However, due to the success of early trials, the completion date has been brought forward to June 2012, a month before the Games begin in the capital.

Mr Livingstone told the publication: "We need our politicians to decide how much of a priority fibre broadband is. BT is the only company currently planning to invest large sums in this area but we can only go so far with our shareholders' money."

The new broadband network will increase broadband download speeds by up to ten times, to around 40 megabits per second.

Concluding, he noted that the governments of France, Australia and the US have provided financial support to help in the development of broadband networks.

Mr Livingstone made his remarks after the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development published research which showed that the majority of consumers still access broadband through DSL, rather than via fibre.

Categories: BT

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