BT offers discounts to ISPs in push for faster broadband

BT Group has offered discounts for internet service providers to upgrade customers to faster broadband as the government seeks to overhaul Britain's digital network.

The company said the offer, made by its Openreach infrastructure arm, should bring superfast and ultrafast broadband to most homes and businesses over that period.

BT said the plan was the result of months of discussions with companies such as Vodafone and TalkTalk to give them long-term discounts in return for commitments to upgrade customers from mainly copper-based services.

Clive Selley, Openreach’s chief executive, said: "This offer is a win/win for communications providers, their customers and Openreach. It will help Britain's homes and businesses to experience the benefits of faster and more reliable broadband. And it will incentivise our wholesale customers to participate in our long-term investment in digital infrastructure by upgrading more of their customers to superfast and ultrafast services."

BT published its plans a day after the government said it would spend up to £5bn to connect the most remote parts of the UK to fast broadband as it attempts to catch up with rival countries to compete in the digital economy. The UK only has 4% full-fibre connections compared with 71% in Spain, 89% in Portugal and 28% in France, where coverage is increasing quickly.

On the day of BT’s announcement Ofcom, the communications regulator, set out its own plans to encourage investment in faster broadband. These include regulating business and residential markets together, opening up Openreach’s ducts and polls to more providers and more flexible regulation according to the level of competition in different parts of the country.