Customers of 'Be Unlimited' (O2) recently informed us that the broadband providers unbundled expansion (LLU) page hadn't been updated for awhile, suggesting a slowdown in rollout. The ISP has now confirmed this to us and offered an explanation.

It's understood that Be initially targeted exchanges where they could more easily utilise existing network infrastructure (e.g. exchanges on the Lancashire coastline). However, the majority of remaining exchanges require a greater investment and higher level of complexity to deliver, thus slowing the process down.

Be also points to having a greater reliance on 3rd parties, such as BT Openreach, which hinders the level of control they have in delivering updates. Likewise and in a more personal note to one of our readers, it looks like the 'Retford' exchange will finally go live by the end of this month following a delay from March.