28 July 2006
The chief executive of BT Retail, Ian Livingston, has said that while the company's broadband internet service is not the cheapest on the market, he believes it is the best value package for internet users.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Livingston commented on recent developments in the sector that have seen the likes of the Carphone Warehouse, Sky and Orange all offer 'free' broadband services.
"I think that everybody knows there is no such thing as free.
"Other people insist that you have to take another group of services," he said on the programme, presumably referring to bundled deals like TalkTalk from the Carphone Warehouse, which offers free broadband for subscribers to its home telephone service.
Mr Livingston was confident that BT would be able to compete in terms of quality.
He said: "What we are offering is a total broadband solution.
"That includes up to £370 worth of values in the first year alone – things such as free high definition calls, free open zone so that you can go out and about to 700 places around the UK and use your broadband connection on your PC for free.
"It is a range of services rather than just a signal piped into your house."