ADSL service 'ahead of schedule' says Alcatel

NEWS Alcatel has installed its ADSL equipment in 400 BT exchanges and the project is ahead of schedule, according to the French equipment provider. Alcatel and Fujitsu have completed work in exchanges serving major UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as technology hot spots such as Cambridge. With work moving on to other areas, Alcatel said by mid-2002, 75 per cent of the business market should have ADSL as an option. A post-trial phase of ADSL deployment is likely to be announced at the end of the month.