Rumours of Orange free broadband deal

Orange is reported to be about to announce a free broadband deal in the wake of a similar offer from Talk Talk.

The Guardian reported that the deal is likely to involve users signing a long-term contract, possibly for as much as two years. Talk Talk's deal involves an 18-month contract.

Orange refused to confirm the report, with a spokesperson saying the company would announce more details next week.

Offers such as this have been made possible by the process of Local Loop Unbundling. Rather than depending on BT, ISPs can install their own equipment at the telephone exchange. This frees the ISP, and the user, from having to pay rental to BT.

Orange is merging with internet provider Wanadoo, which has installed its own equipment in 200 exchanges in the UK. It has plans to move into a further 500 by the end of the year. There are around 5,591 BT exchanges in total country-wide.

There are no details yet as to how this will affect Orange and Wanadoo customers who decide not to take up the deal.

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