BT's decision to open up its high-speed broadband network to rival internet service providers (ISPs) has been welcomed by Be Broadband.

Tom Williams, Head of Operations at the broadband provider, said the move would help firms "better assess the case for fibre deployment".

He commented: "Although we will wait until BT confirms this move before revealing any of our own plans, one thing for certain is that the UK lags behind most of Europe now in terms of rolling out fibre broadband, which can't persist for longer.

"Consumers will and have started to demand more and more speed for the broadband."

Mr Williams added that people are looking for non-traffic shaped connections that give them "unfettered access to their digital lives".

He claimed that only the opening up of BT's infrastructure and the introduction of fibre to the majority will allow this to happen.

"Be will championing the case for this technology until we see it in place," Mr Williams said.

The Conservative Party has been leading the calls for BT to open its broadband ducts to other ISPs.