Most new BT 40Mbps broadband areas already served by Virgin

Following last year's promises, BT has revealed which UK exchanges will be first to support the roll-out of 40Mbps fibre-optic broadband -- the faster-than-shiznit-off-a-shovel successor to the ADSL standard BT currently uses.

By 2010, 29 exchanges will be connected to BT's fibre-optic network, including Halifax, Cardiff, Oldham, Bury, Woolwich, Luton, Hemel Hempstead, Watford and several exchanges in London.

BT is investing £1.5bn in its fibre rollout. We poked around a little, however, and discovered that 25 of these 29 locations are already eligible for Virgin Media's 50Mbps fibre-optic broadband. So while a significant investment for BT, it results in fibre being piped to just four areas that can't already get the next-gen broadbeans already. 

But this will add a level of competition the fibre-optic market needs, and by offering the service in largely built-up areas, BT should secure a large return on its initial investment. This will result in a wider eventual rollout. We hope.  

40Mbps? Pfft. How about 200Mbps?

Last year, Virgin Media's chief technology officer Howard Watson said Virgin envisaged the rollout of 200Mbps fibre-optic broadband by 2012 -- that's five times faster than BT's fibre aims to achieve.

For a full list of exchanges BT is upgrading to support fibre, hit up our thread in the forum below.