BT accelerates fibre broadband rollout

BT has again accelerated its fibre optic broadband rollout, with the telecoms giant now aiming to cover two-thirds of UK properties during spring 2014.

The company originally intended to hit this target by the end of 2015, before moving the deadline forward to late 2014 earlier this year.

If it sticks to the new timetable, BT will have brought fibre broadband to around 19 million homes and businesses across the country 18 months ahead of schedule.

More than 12 million properties have already been passed, with the company poised to overtake the super-fast broadband coverage of rival network operator Virgin Media in the coming months.

Ian Livingston, chief executive of BT, said the company is looking forward to hitting its new deadline so it can push ahead with the second phase of its fibre broadband strategy.

"This will see BT working hand in hand with the public sector to extend fibre broadband to UK homes and businesses in the 'final third' of the country that are harder to reach," he explained.