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<p>Nine out of ten homes and businesses now have access to superfast broadband, but
our goal is to make sure the UK builds the right infrastructure to maintain our position
as a world-leading digital nation. BT has a big part to play in this.</p><p>The government
supports Ofcom in the changes that it wants to see in relation to Openreach. A more
independent Openreach is needed to benefit consumers and boost investment in the UK’s
digital infrastructure.</p><p>We are encouraging BT to invest in high-quality broadband
infrastructure and have brokered a deal between Openreach and the Home Builders Federation
that will see fibre-based broadband offered to all new developments either for free
or as part of a co-funded initiative. Additionally, Virgin and GTC have recently signed
new deals in this area.</p><p>We are creating a favourable regulatory environment
to incentivise commercial investment for BT and all Communications Providers. For
example: we will reform the Electronic Communications Code, to support faster and
more efficient infrastructure rollout and to encourage investment and growth in the
UK digital industry; and we are making permanent a relaxation of the rules for deploying
fixed broadband infrastructure originally introduced in 2013.</p>
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