BT has revised its target for rolling out super-fast broadband to 10 million homes in the UK to the summer of 2012.
BT has brought forward its target to get 10 million homes in the UK connected to a next-generation access (NGA) super-fast broadband network to the summer of 2012.
Initially the company had targeted the end of 2012 but is now confident that it can get the network deployed to 40 per cent of the population before the London Olympic games begin.
Ian Livingston, BT's chief executive, said: "The programme is ahead of schedule. Given the progress we're making, four million homes will have access to fibre by the end of next year.
"2012 will be an important year for the UK given the Olympics and so I'm keen we provide ten million homes with access to fibre by the time the games begin," he continued.
However, plans to roll out NGA to the rest of the population are still surrounded by doubt and mystery - BT has said that there is "no economic case" for extending the network beyond 10 million homes at the present.
But Chancellor Alistair Darling has said that the Labour government wants 90 per cent of the population, about 25 million homes, to be connected to an NGA network by 2017.
These plans, which haven't been fully outlined, would presumably depend a great deal on private investors being found and Labour winning next year's general election.
BT is also celebrating hitting the five million customer mark. Chip shop worker Elizabeth Patterson of East Kilbride, Glasgow will win a trip to Vancouver to see the winter Olympics.
"Broadband has the ability to transform people's lives and the fact that we are still showing strong take-up when there are more than 14 million ADSL broadband customers in the UK is testament to the unique benefits of being connected," said managing director of BT's consumer division, John Petter.
Topic: BT targets Olympics with NGA push (Read 1522 times)