Be - the broadband ISP that advertises speeds of up to 24Mb - is expanding its network. The ISP is investing in local loop unbundling (LLU) and has already installed its kit in 60 BT telephone exchanges in London to provide services direct to end users.

It reckons that by May a further 90-odd exchanges will be unbundled taking the total number of LLU sites to 156, with Birmingham and Manchester the first areas outside of London to get the Be treatment.

However the LLU operator, which has so far secured £24.5m in investment, is still refusing to say how many users it's signed up.

Elsewhere, Cable & Wireless has a fortnight to decide the future of its established LLU operator Bulldog.

The telco is due to publish its new broadband strategy at the end of the month amid speculation that even though Bulldog has more than 80,000 punters, it will step back from retail broadband and become a wholesale provider of LLU services instead. ®

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