BT today announces plans to upgrade another 32 telephone exchanges across Scotland for ‘next generation’ broadband services, benefiting more than 260,000 homes and businesses.
The exchanges are included in the latest roll-out plans for upgrade to the company’s pioneering ‘21st Century Network’ (21CN) platform by Spring 2011.
Says a spokesperson: “BT’s advanced communications platform carries voice, data, video-on-demand and broadband services with download speeds of up to 24Mb – more than double the maximum speeds previously available to the majority of UK homes and businesses.
“Around a third of Scottish lines have already been upgraded and today’s announcement will extend the reach of the technology to exchanges covering almost a million Scottish homes and businesses by Spring 2011. The faster speeds are delivered over copper lines.”
Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: “BT is the only player in town consistently investing in faster broadband technologies outside the major urban areas of Scotland.
“We believe the roll-out of 21CN technology is an essential part of the broadband mix bringing faster speeds across Scotland. The inclusion of these 32 exchanges in the next stage of deployment is great news for these areas.
“Broadband is a key strength behind Scottish businesses and helps underpin the local economy. This upgrade will help these areas to attract and retain inward investment.
“In the broadband ‘mixed economy’, it’s no longer a case of one size fits all. What really counts is having the speed and bandwidth you need, when you need it, to do what you want. BT is the only company offering a range of broadband solutions right across Scotland.”
He concluded: “The world of telecommunications is moving at a staggeringly fast pace. In recent years, we have seen a tremendous demand emerge for broadband, but we are only at the start of a very fast and exciting journey.”
The new 21st Century Network provides increased customer choice and flexibility, allow more features and enable the faster introduction of new services. It is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services.
For householders, it supports the growing demand for high-speed access to a range of online services – including HD television, online gaming and a range of other internet and communications services. For businesses, it enables smaller firms to operate like bigger companies, quickly responding to changes in the market in a way once only available to much larger enterprises.
An announcement on further BT exchanges due to be upgraded by Spring 2011 will be made later this year.
For further information
Enquiries about this news release should be made to Mitch Reid or Anna Steven at the BT Scotland Press Office on 0800 085 0660. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News.
The list of 32 exchanges is as follows:
Exchange Town
ABERDEEN NORTH TE Aberdeen
ARBROATH TE Arbroath
ARDROSSAN TE Saltcoats
ASHGROVE TE Aberdeen
BANNOCKBURN TE Stirling
BEARSDEN TE Glasgow
BLANTYRE TE Glasgow
BRIDGE OF WEIR TE Bridge Of Weir
BROUGHTY FERRY TE Dundee
CAMBUSLANG TE Glasgow
CROFTFOOT TE Glasgow
CUMNOCK TE Cumnock
DUNDEE TE Dundee
FORFAR TE Forfar
GRANTON TE Edinburgh
GREENOCK TE Greenock
IBROX TE Glasgow
INVERKEITHING TE Inverkeithing
IRVINE BOURTREE TE Irvine
KINGSWELLS TE Westhill
LIBERTON TE Edinburgh
LOANHEAD TE Roslin
MAYBURY TE Edinburgh
MERRYLEE TE Glasgow
MONTROSE TE Montrose
MORNINGSIDE TE Edinburgh
NEWTON MEARNS TE Glasgow
PARK TE Dundee
POLMONT REDDING TE Falkirk
RUTHERGLEN TE Glasgow
THORNLY PARK TE Paisley
TRANENT TE Tranent
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
MEDIA RELEASE issued by BT Scotland. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka Press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email info@allmediascotland.com for more information.
Contact: Mitch Reid or Anna Steven
Phone: 0800 085 0660
Website: http://www.btplc.com/News
