"Sunil Sood" <news@soods.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2gcnb5F14iesU1@uni-berlin.de...
BT have now issued a press release on this report @
http://www.btplc.com/News/Pressrelea...004/nr0429.htm
including:
----
"BT today welcomed the latest report into rural broadband issued by the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This report
shows the UK to be a world leader for broadband availability.
The report, "The development of broadband access in rural and remote areas",
looks at broadband availability across the OECD, both as it is now and as it
is expected to be next year. It establishes that the UK will lead the G7
group of leading industrial countries in terms of DSL broadband availability
both at the end of this year and 2005. This success is due to BT's
investment in rolling out broadband, encouraged by the phenomenal effect
that hundreds of thousands of local campaigners have had in stimulating
demand for broadband services right across the UK.
It is predicted the UK will have 95 per cent coverage by the end of this
year, a full five percentage points ahead of its nearest rival in the G7. BT
has also announced plans to bring DSL broadband to exchanges serving 99.6
per cent of UK premises by summer 2005. This move will allow the UK to
extend its lead even further.
Welcoming the report, BT chief broadband officer, Alison Ritchie, said:
"This report fully reflects BT's plans to make broadband available to all.
This recognition is great news for UK plc as well as for BT, other broadband
companies, government and local partnership initiatives, and, customers.
"The challenge now is to drive the take up of broadband. The UK is already a
world leader in narrowband internet but the time has come for it to move up
the league table for broadband as well. The growth in adoption rates are
very encouraging but there is plenty more to be done."
As well as showing the UK to be leading the G7 in broadband availability,
the report also recognises various initiatives BT has taken to bring
broadband to rural communities. These initiatives include BT's innovative
demand registration scheme and its plans to extend the reach of ADSL
broadband so that an extra million premises will have access.
BT was also considered the most innovative telecommunications company in the
EU in its approach to delivering rural broadband by the Yankee Group".
---
Regards
Sunil
