Geo quits fibre broadband funding framework

Fibre optic broadband network operator Geo has announced it is pulling out of the Broadband Delivery UK funding framework, citing concerns about competition.

According to the company, its business case "does not stack up" because of the terms and pricing of BT's Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product, which offers rival providers access to the telecoms giant's network of poles and ducts.

Geo argued PIA places "heavy restrictions" on companies looking to make use of the infrastructure to deploy their own super-fast broadband networks.

It can only be adopted to connect consumers' homes to the local exchange, rather than to bridge the long distances required to reach rural communities, it stated.

Chris Smedley, chief executive of Geo, commented: "BT does not suffer from any of these restrictions when it has to assess the business case for deploying new optical fibre cable over its existing infrastructure."

Earlier this week, BT announced it is gearing up for the commercial launch of its PIA product before the end of this month.