LLU landmark

Competition in the broadband market is hotting up, the latest figures show.

For the first time, there now more than 5 million unbundled lines across the country - up from 123,000 just three years ago.

But what are unbundled lines and how do they affect us?

At one time the vast majority of people could only get their broadband and landline telephone service from one provider – BT.

Telephone exchange

It controlled both the telephone exchanges and the lines to your home.

But this all changed when Ofcom introduced Local Loop Unbundling (LLU).

LLU is where a phone company other than BT installs its own telecoms equipment into the local BT exchange.

This lets these other phone companies take over the connection between the local exchange and the customer’s home.

It can then offer its own direct phone or broadband service.

Since LLU was introduced, millions of homes and small businesses have switched to providers other than BT.

It has led to much greater competition which has provided UK consumers with greater choice, a wider range of services and lower prices.