BT has said it plans to roll out fibre-optic-based internet connections to 10 million homes by 2012 - which basically means BT and all the ISPs who utilise BT's networks will be able to offer high speed internet services like those currently only available via Virgin Media. Said development is important because as more and more people access rich media services over the net the good old copper wire over which much of the net runs is going to struggle.
BT say that rolling out a higher speed internet requires significant investment (obviously) and that they will need media and telecoms regulator OfCom to relax certain restrictions on the tel co major to make such investment viable. A spokesman for BT said: "A supportive and enduring regulatory environment is essential if this investment is to take place. Given this, BT will be discussing with Ofcom the conditions that would be necessary to enable this programme to progress. These include removing current barriers to investment and making sure that anyone who chooses to invest in fibre can earn a fair rate of return for their shareholders".