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BT expands next-gen broadband, sort of

by Scott Bicheno on 24 September 2009, 17:43

Tags: British Telecom (LON:BT.A)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qat6b

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Headline chasing

"BT doubles footprint for next generation broadband" boasted a recent press release, only to be clarified by the following strap line: "Higher speed Wholesale services to reach as much as 75% of UK homes and businesses".

By the time we got into the body copy of the BT announcement, the following details emerged:

  • BT intends to expand the availability of next generation broadband, which offers up to 24Mbps
  • BT Wholesale intends to almost double the current footprint for the service
  • While 40 percent of homes currently have access to next-gen, up to 75 percent will have it by Spring 2011, depending on customer demand

So it looks like BT indulged in a spot of headline chasing and was resourceful with the truth as a consequence. Judicious use of the facts in order to create a sensational headline? Tut, tut, what's the world coming to, etc.

Also worth noting is BT's pledge to almost halve the cost of its wholesale prices from the start of next year - which should mean lower broadband prices for everyone.

"We plan to reduce WBC [Wholesale Broadband Connect] prices to communications providers from January 2010 with bandwidth charges being dropped by almost 50 per cent and WBC rental costs standardised at the lowest current price, too," said Cameron Rejali MD of products at BT Wholesale.

 



HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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Great, and once again us customers are treated as total mugs! :)
'tis the BT way..

Then they claim it's all your fault and try to charge you Ā£160+vat for the hell of it.. ;)
Judicious use of the facts in order to create a sensational headline?
And you point is?

News - BT expands next-gen broadband, sort of
They are either expanding ot or they are not. And it turns out they are.

So was the previous 40% coverage actually exactly 40%, or if you have the hard numbers, was it perhaps something closer to 38%? so really they are doubling that and just rounde dup the previous figures.

All this is subject to change, is based on estimation and isn't exact.

Sorry if this sounds really harsh, but I get really fed up of the media intentionally spinning what should be good news into another attack on whoever they take a dislike to.

This ‘article’ should have been more along the lines of “this is awesome next gen broadband is being extended!!” rather than “BT are trying to pull the wool over your eyes! aren't they evil!!!!”

:rolleyes:
Funkstar
Sorry if this sounds really harsh, but I get really fed up of the media intentionally spinning what should be good news into another attack on whoever they take a dislike to.

Hi Funkstar, I'm actually pretty indifferent about BT and the goodies are all there in the ‘article’ too.

The irony is that it was BT's intentional spinning that I was gently mocking in the piece and my disapproval of sensational headlines was toungue in cheek.
It wasn't aimed specifically at you Scott, more the media in general. Which I'm getting increasingly fed up with as time goes by :)