Wanadoo plans BB drive

Wanadoo UK begins major broadband drive
By Tim Richardson
Published Monday 13th December 2004 16:54 GMT

France Telecom has begun making a "substantial and significant"
investment in the UK's telecoms industry to provide broadband services
direct to users of its UK ISP, Wanadoo. The move could see thousands
of Wanadoo UK broadband punters whipped off BT's network and provided
with services via local loop unbundling (LLU).

Although Wanadoo UK is reluctant to disclose too much at this stage,
it could mean cheaper broadband or, more likely, innovative and
speedier services such as internet telephony (VoIP) and video on
demand.

Wanadoo UK has made no secret of the fact that it sees LLU as the way
forward for providing broadband. As part of an enquiry into broadband
by MPs earlier this year, the ISP said it "would be prepared to invest
in LLU provided access costs significantly decrease in line with the
rest of Europe".

Since then, the cost of LLU in the UK has fallen substantially, and
the industry has made great strides to turn LLU into a workable
alternative to BT's wholesale ADSL. However, it was understood that
any investment Wanadoo UK in LLU would not be made until next year.

But a spokeswoman for Wanadoo UK told The Register today that the ISP
has already placed LLU orders with BT. She declined to say where the
investment would be made or when the unbundled broadband services
would come online, citing "commercial reasons". However, it's
understood that the investment will be confined to "major urban
areas".

"We are making substantial and significant investments in LLU in the
UK," she said.

Earlier today, UK LLU leader Easynet announced plans to offer an
unbundled wholesale broadband to operators and ISPs ®