Be rolls out its network

Be Un Limited is to extend its ADSL2+ network coverage to a further 2,000,000 lines over the next four months.

This means the network will be accessible to 67 per cent of the UK population. Between now and June, the wholly owned subsidiary of O2 will unbundle a further 400 exchanges, bringing its total number to 1,245 ADSL2+-enabled exchanges.

Sam Crawford, founder of Samknows.com, a site dedicated to tracking the rollout and progress of broadband across the UK, said: “This is great news for the discerning consumer. Be's expansion into Northern Ireland and Wales will be particularly well received, as users there often have little choice between broadband providers.”

ADSL2+ is the fastest broadband technology available over the telephone system in the UK. Three key factors affect speed; a customer’s distance from the exchange, the copper line quality from the exchange to a customer’s home and the line noise or interference picked up by the telephone line.

Determined by these factors, Be broadband customers can theoretically receive broadband speeds of up 24Mbits per sec.