BT launches customer survey to help fibre-optic broadband rollout

Race to Infinity campaign seeks areas where demand is highest for high-speed connection ? and put them at the front of the queueBT has launched a nationwide survey asking communities to tell them if they want fibre-optic broadband, promising in return to provide high-speed internet to the five top-scoring areas by 2012.The online survey, which will run until the end of the year, is designed to help BT identify hot-spots of demand and inform its plans to rollout fibre-optic broadband to two-thirds of the UK population by 2015.Fibre-optic broadband is mooted as the next generation of high-speed internet access and could deliver broadband speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps). BT claims that the survey could result in commercially viable areas being brought to the front of the queue, but also that non-viable areas could be added to its plans if there is enough demand.The marketing campaign for the Race to Infinity survey directs consumers to a web page where they can enter their postcode to register interest. This raises concerns about the ability of those with limited access to the internet, or no internet at all, to register their interest.Traditionally, rural areas have struggled with slow internet access, and a study released in July by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, found that internet speeds in rural communities were still half of those in urban areas.Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive, warned at the time that broadband firms were likely to continue focusing their investment in more densely populated areas, unless incentives were provided to improve access in rural communities.As well as providing fibre-optic broadband to those areas with high demand for the service, BT states it will engage with those communities who express a high level of demand. However, exchanges (local telephone networks) need a minimum of 1,000 votes to enter the race and a BT spokesman admitted that some of the smallest exchanges "don't stand any chance of winning".Ofcom welcomed the campaign, claiming that it raised awareness of fibre-optic broadband and that greater competition would ultimately benefit consumers. However, a spokeswoman declined to comment on the particulars of the marketing campaign, adding that Ofcom does not regulate the use of the internet and "hopefully they [consumers] can make their opinions heard".According to BT, 4m homes will have access to high-speed internet by 2010, with a further 12m premises earmarked for access by 2015. BT added that its plans to spend �2.5bn to bring high-speed internet to two-thirds of the population was not reliant on public sector support. Investment would be required for the final third of the UK rollout, in areas where installing fibre-optic cable would not be commercially viable.Consumer affairsBroadbandInternetBTTelecommunications industryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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