BT revises PIA prices for fibre broadband rollouts

BT has published revised prices for physical infrastructure access (PIA), in a move that could encourage the deployment of fibre optic broadband.

Rival telecoms firms can use the company's network of telegraph poles and underground ducts to lay fibre optic cables, but have been unwilling to do so after complaining BT's fees were not commercially viable.

In response to this criticism, BT has released new rates, some of which are said to be more than 60 per cent cheaper than the figures it proposed in January.

The prices are up to 38 per cent below the European PIA average for rural areas, according to independent analysis from Ovum.

Liv Garfield, chief executive of BT Openreach, commented: "These prices will hopefully unlock some much needed investment from others but we will have to wait and see."

The publication comes less than a month after Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt hit out at BT for taking too long to revise its PIA charges.