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BT and Virgin Media involved in network duct debate

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Posted at 3:12pm by

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Two of the UK's broadband providers have entered into a debate over the opening up of underground networks.

BT has claimed that Virgin Media should be encouraged to follow its lead and allow rival broadband providers to use its network infrastructure, in a move which could boost competition in the sector.

According to the Times, Ofcom may also be encouraged by BT to ensure Virgin Media is forced into opening up its network.

Talking to the newspaper, a BT spokesman said: "It is remarkable that those calling for open access from BT are not willing to provide it themselves."

However, Neil Berkett, Chief Executive of Virgin Media, suggested that BT was only attempting to open up "a can of worms".

News of the debate has arisen just weeks after Virgin Media confirmed plans to launch 100Mb broadband services in the UK before the end of 2010.

The company is also extending its ongoing trial of 200Mb broadband.

More news on: BT, Virgin Media, Future developments

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  • Jon The Great, 10th March 2010.

    Yeah, but it's no good having my small road converted into a motorway and then limiting the entire journey, including when I go onto the big roads and dual carriageways and highways, to 10 miles an hour.

    Virgin Media needs to do something about their broadband networks, including the other bits and pieces. And they need to stop going on about about next generation fibre optic and its limits.

    In their small print, after all the sales talk, it says 'depending on network capacity and congestion'. So basically it's not that different from the old banger BT line and its performance - meaning that fibre optics don't really mean anything. It's just like a buzzword like 'HD'. Everyone is selling you 'HD', but only a few are giving you the actual FULL HD 1980x1080!

    The average guy is too ignorant to know or notice and is just too dumb. Hence why they're making all this cash out of him!

    Reply

  • Malcolm, 10th March 2010.

    Again another attempt from BT to have a "pop" at Virgin Media. I used to be a BT customer, but got fed up with the constant poor performance of their networks. When they put their systems in place years ago, they got too content. As a result they didn't upgrade.

    Now because they are behind technology-wise, they want money from the government and are the cause of the idea of broadband tax. Then they'll only upgrade the bigger cities first.

    It's crazy. I'm a Virgin Media 50Mb customer and the service is fantastic. Customer service staff are very helpful and I've not had any service drop outs. Sorry for my rant everyone, it just frustrates me seeing BT act like school kids when another company outperforms them!

    Reply

  • Dan, 10th March 2010.

    It is kind of fair what BT are asking though. All these companies piggyback on BT infastrucutre, with everyone asking BT to open up their lines.

    Why shouldn't BT ask Virgin Media to share their lines? Even if it is at a cost much like BT imposes. Then we could see how much other providers would charge to use a Virgin line, instead of how much others charge to use a BT line.

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