[akira]

you keep going on about BT investing in the NGN etc, bla bla bla and how because of this its not been paid for by the tax payer etc.

It dosn't matter who paid for the equipment whether its copper or fiber. The Tax payer still paid for the treches to be dug and the ducting to be laid which these cables run through. Its the actual laying of the ducting that costs the most and this is where BT have the advantage. Yes its going to cost them to replace the copper with fiber but they will use the exising ducting meaning not having to dig up roads etc.