BT admits FTTH rollout target will be missed

BT has admitted that it has once again missed its schedule for rolling out ultra-fast fibre optic broadband.

The telecoms giant had originally planned to deploy its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service to 12 exchange areas by the end of September, but moved this deadline back to the end of 2011 after conducting unexpectedly lengthy trials.

Speaking to the Register, a BT spokesman confirmed that only six exchanges will now be upgraded within this timeframe, but insisted additional rollouts will be announced in the near future.

"We fully expect to exceed that number in due course - we will announce these during our regular quarterly roll out updates," he explained.

Ashford in Middlesex, Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes, Highams Park in north London, Chester South, St Austell and York are the six exchanges that will be upgraded to FTTH by the end of this month.

Despite the delay, BT's FTTH deployment has been hailed by Communications Minister Ed Vaizey as a "significant announcement" and "good news for the UK".