BT is to open up its ‘ducts’ to allow its rivals to lay down their own cable without first having to dig their own ducts – which would cost millions and also disrupt Britain’s streets for an untold length of time. The ducts are the underground tunnels where BT lays its fibre cables.

In this unprecedented move, BT is enabling the roll out of next generation broadband networks at an even faster pace than first planned – and for a cheaper price too. The Tory party vowed to force BT to open up its ducts to other companies – a day after BT announced that it was doing exactly that. At least we’re all on the same page.