BT demands Virgin Media opens up network

BT is calling for Virgin Media to open up its fiber network and allow other ISPs to access the infrastructure.

"It is remarkable that those calling for open access from BT are not willing to provide it themselves. We call on others to follow BT's lead in offering to open its infrastructure and content to all on a fair basis," BT said. BT was referring to recent proposals from the Conservative Party that slammed a suggested 'broadband tax', under which Brits with a telephone line would fork out £6 per year to pay for the roll-out of 100Mbit/s broadband. Instead, the party suggested the best way to fund the roll out is to use some of the BBC's Licence fund, coupled with the opening-up of the next-generation fibre network being implemented by BT. BT said it hopes to offer superfast broadband to five million Brits by spring 2011.