British telecommunications company BT recently announced that it will improve its broadband services within the United Kingdom following a series of negative remarks from critics lambasting its slow internet services and limited coverage.
BT chief executive officer Gavin Patterson said that they are concentrating their efforts into upgrading internet infrastructure. Patterson added that the company will upgrade its minimum internet speed to at least 5-10 megabits per second (Mbps). On top of that, Patterson said that they will improve their network coverage especially in the rural areas as well as the expansion of its fiber optic network.
According to Reuters, BT is also planning to expand its ultrafast internet service with speeds of up to 500 Mbps. The expansion will bring ultrafast internet to at least 10 million household by 2020. The report added that the expansion plan will not affect BT's annual spending which currently sits at around $461 to $614 million.
In a statement picked up by The Telegraph, Patterson said, "We want to forge an ultrafast future for Britain and stand ready to help government deliver the broadband speeds necessary for every property to enjoy modern day internet services, such as high-definition TV streaming and cloud computing. To achieve this, we need a collaborative effort across industry and government."
As part of its expansion plans, BT's acquisition of mobile operator EE is currently pending and awaits regulatory approval. The rivalry between BT and Sky will rise to new height as the latter is also tying up with O2.