BT Wholesale today set broadband registration trigger levels for 88 more exchanges. For 53 exchanges, the telco has set a trigger level of 200 customer registrations. This reflects lower than average costs, BT says.

The other 35 exchanges have much higher triggers of, variously, 650, 700 and 750 end users. These reflect the "higher costs of providing broadband network capacity to link the exchange to BT's core network".

So who are the unlucky exchanges?

Trigger 750

Bridgnorth, Brimscombe, Caldicot, Cudworth, Darton, Fraserburgh, Hexham, Milford Haven, Oakham, Pagham, Seaton Delaval, Skegness, South Wootton, Stocksbridge, Ulverston

Trigger 700

Brixham, Calne, Cowes, Hawkwell, Holmer Green, Nantwich, Prestatyn, Sheerness, Sleaford

Trigger 650

Aberconwy, Burntwood, Hednesford, Newtown Llantwit, Peterhead, Pevensey, St Johns Worcester

BT Wholesale says it has now set trigger levels for 426 exchanges. It will establish targets for 474 exchanges, with the results published in phases beginning in September.

According to BT, 1115 telephone exchanges have been upgraded for ADSL, covering 66 per cent of the UK's homes and 68 per cent of businesses. Of course, this is highly concentrated in urban areas.

Punters can register their interest in signing up for ADSL through BT's online broadband availability checker - kinda. BT Wholesale now insists that you register through an ISP. But of course the ISP has to accept registrations.

This has got at least one resident Horsted Keynes, a Sussex village 35 miles from London, hopping mad. Read the ranthere.

The BT broadband site is here. To date 32,000 individual lines have been registered through participating ISPs. ®