We have installed our own advanced equipment in more than 2,000 of the UK’s local telephone exchanges, which serve around 86% of the country’s households. These exchanges are connected via our own high speed, high capacity all IP national network, enabling us to carry all of our customers’ voice and data traffic efficiently and cost effectively.
This investment enables us to take control of the telephone line from the exchange to the customer’s premises (on terms established by the telecoms regulator Ofcom) and to manage all of the voice and broadband services we provide over this line. Known as ‘local loop unbundling’, this process brings major advantages for the customer, such as optimised broadband speed and service quality and access to our growing range of additional products and services.
Further unbundling, to extend our network coverage to 93% of the UK’s households, is central to our plans to continue growing our revenue and our profit margins.