7. Existing ADSL services went through a number of changes before they finally became self-installable (wires only). Given the differences between FTTC and FTTP, will such services initially be offered as an engineer-only installed solution or can we expect them to be wires-only at launch? In addition, what new hardware will end-users require for the connection?

BT: FTTP and FTTC services will initially require engineer install but our aim is to evolve the services, just as for ADSL, into self install as soon as technological developments allow.

8. BT’s entrance into the UK cable market is a significant one and your decision to open the services up at wholesale level for rivals have been widely welcomed. However, Virgin Media (formerly ntl:telewest) has been offering cable services on a closed platform for some years now. Do you think that Virgin Media should now also be required to open its cable infrastructure up to rivals via wholesale?

BT: Yes.

9. Does the growing digital ‘speed’ divide between those on an extremely basic 512Kbps to 1Mbps connection and those able to get 100Mbps under the new infrastructure worry you? How should this problem be addressed?

BT: Under our 21CN programme BT is rolling out ADSL2+ widely across the UK.  This will provide improvements to current broadband speeds across the UK and with the introduction of the demand led FTTx services we feel this will provide consumers with a wide range of options.

ISPreview Editors Note: While ADSL2+ may provide some improvements, it's impact upon those already living with the slowest of speeds will not provide a significant enough boost for them to keep effective pace with modern services (HD Internet TV etc.). Likewise it may cost BT too much to deploy such technology into remote regions where demand is hindered by a low population.

10. Fibre optic is often touted as being necessary to plug the weaknesses of existing infrastructure and capacity, but what kind of other uses and or killer applications do you envisage its deployment fostering? 

BT: As mentioned in our announcement we think FTTx opens up the opportunity for multiple HD TV services, HD video conferencing and the greater upstream capacity also opens up many options for interactive services and file sharing. 

11. Roughly, when can we expect to see specific details of the rollout plan itself surfacing and will this be accessible so that consumers are able to learn when it will reach them?

BT: We expect to be able to announce the location of our initial large scale operational trial of FTTC towards the end of September 2008.  This will be followed in November with details of our proposed early market rollout.

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