Want broadband? Can't get it? BT wants to hear from you...

BT's 'sign up for broadband' scheme goes live...

A BT scheme to allow customers in areas not served by broadband to register their interest online has gone live today. Under the scheme, BT Wholesale promises to enable broadband in 338 new exchanges if enough customers come forward to make the project economically viable. Customers can register their interest via the BT broadband website, at www.bt.com/broadband . They will then be referred to an ISP of their choice, and the plan is that the ISPs will then transmit details of the number of orders they have received back to BT Wholesale. When enough punters sign up, BT will install broadband equipment in the exchange. As demand increases, it will be shown on a church fundraising-style thermometer, which will be updated every 24 hours or so. It will take a few days for the first information from the ISPs to come through, but BT hopes to see the mercury starting to rise by the end of the week. ISPs which have already built databases of customers can upload the data in bulk, BT said. However, BT won't be taking user registrations from campaign groups, petitions and other sources directly. It is asking anyone who has collected such a list to contact those persons on it and urge them to sign up with an ISP. Not yet included in the scheme are 162 exchanges which had previously been under review for an upgrade. However, they, and 400 more exchanges, will be added to the scheme by September.