BT is planning to share its underground cable ducts to allow its competitors to run their own high-speed broadband networks through its infrastructure, according to UK reports. The move by BT could help rivals place their optical fibre cables without incurring the expense of digging up pavements.

Since 2009, cable trunking the telecom company has been in talks with telecoms regulator, Ofcom, about opening up its ducts. It will inject £1.5 billion in high-speed broadband network using optical fibre and is expecting to secure a return on its investment partly by plastic truking signing wholesale deals with rivals.

The deal could help companies, including British Sky Broadcasting and Carphone Warehouse’s TalkTalk telecoms unit, to acquire wholesale fibre products from BT so as to supply high-speed internet access to their clients. GTB