Our approach

Here is an overview of how BT is delivering next generation broadband to the UK.

BT’s business structure provides the UK with one of the most competitive communications markets in the world, with unrivalled broadband availability, take-up and prices. In 2005 Ofcom created a new regulatory framework that required BT to separate its access network operations. As a result, Openreach – a BT Group company - was created, providing all communications providers in the UK with equal access to BT’s network.

Providing the infrastructure

Openreach is the part of BT responsible for the local access network- the wires and fibres that connect tens of millions of homes and businesses to local telephone exchanges. Like roads or railways this network is one of the UK’s most important assets, and Openreach was created to give all communications providers equal access to it.

Openreach is leading the deployment of BT’s £2.5bn investment in fibre, upgrading and maintaining the local access network on behalf of over 450 communication providers, including other parts of BT.

To learn more about how Openreach is delivering next generation access to the UK, visit the Openreach website.

Providing a wholesale service

BT provides its next generation broadband services to communications providers as well as directly to businesses and consumers.

Communication providers have the choice of gaining access to BT’s local access network (also known as ‘the last mile’) directly from Openreach or via a wholesaler like BT Wholesale - which in turn would buy its access from Openreach.

Some providers that buy directly from Openreach deliver broadband services to end users over their own network infrastructure which they install in BT exchanges. Many providers that do not have their own network infrastructure choose to buy individual products, complete broadband solutions or managed services from BT Wholesale which they then brand and sell to their customers.

As part of its portfolio, BT Wholesale provides copper broadband, fibre broadband and Ethernet services to over 1000 of the UK’s communications providers on an, open, wholesale basis. These communications providers include BT’s own service providers BT Retail and BT Global Services who deliver the products and services to end users.

For further information on BT Wholesale’s next generation broadband products and services please visit the BT Wholesale website

Providing service to businesses and consumers

Businesses

BT Retail buys next generation broadband products and services from BT Wholesale which it then sells onto its end user customers – consumers and small and medium sized businesses. Larger enterprise and public sector organisations are served by BT Global Services.

BT Retail’s next generation broadband products for small and medium sized businesses include BT Business Total Broadband, running over advanced copper technology and providing download speeds of up to 20Mbps and BT Infinity for Business, providing download speeds of up to 80Mbps and even up to 100Mbps in some areas of the UK.

BT Retail also offers Ethernet services with its Short Haul Data Services (SHDS) and Etherflow for small and medium sized businesses.

To find out more about BT Retail’s next generation broadband services for small and medium sized businesses, visit the BT Retail website.

Consumers

Consumers can buy BT Total Broadband from BT Retail, which runs over advanced copper technology and provides download speeds of up to 20Mbps, or BT Infinity, a fibre broadband service providing download speeds up to 80Mbps and even up to 100Mbps in some areas of the UK.

To find out more about BT Retail’s next generation broadband services for consumers, visit the BT Retail website.

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