BT made to speed local competition

BT customers might be offered high-speed internet links by other telecoms companies as early as next January, under a timetable revealed by the telecoms regulator Oftel yesterday.

BT customers might be offered high-speed internet links by other telecoms companies as early as next January, under a timetable revealed by the telecoms regulator Oftel yesterday.

July 2001 remains the target for the widespread launch of "unbundling", but the timetable will force BT to start connecting competitors early next year.

Unbundling will allow rival companies to connect directly into the wire leading from BT exchanges to customers, andoffer BT customers a separate high-speed asymmetric digital subscriber line connection.

BT expects to start installing ADSL for home users in October and November.