Rearguard action in the battle for broadband

SIR – Gavin Patterson, the chief executive of BT, recently defended the status quo by saying that “more than nine out of 10 properties can access fibre broadband” (telegraph.co.uk, January 26). He then described BT’s “bold vision” that 95 per cent will have access by 2017.

What, then, is the plan for those of us who occupy houses on the flanks of Bodmin Moor and who are likely to be permanently consigned to the five per cent rump?

Whether Openreach remains part of BT or not is irrelevant. The Government simply needs to rule that 100 per cent of properties in Britain must have fibre access within the next year and Ofcom needs to make sure this promise is fulfilled.

Oliver Blount

Camelford, Cornwall

SIR – I live 2.5 miles from an exchange which is fibre optic enabled. After numerous promises from BT that superfast broadband was “coming soon” I wrote to my local MP, who was able to extract an explanation from BT for the delay. Apparently the cabinet that my phone line is connected to is “not upgraded” and the supplier had confirmed that there were no plans to do so as it was not “commercially viable”. Of course, the supplier in question is Openreach.

Dr Robert Walker

Workington, Cumbria

SIR – The “outdated” copper cables referred to in a recent report into broadband speeds would be a luxury where I live. We have aluminium cables, which have a fraction of the conductivity of copper and are now so fragile that they constantly break.

I am so frustrated that I have decided to move to a private provider who will supply fibre cable direct to my home. It will give me immense pleasure to cancel my subscription to BT for telephone and broadband.

John Aldridge

East Carlton, Northamptonshire