Vodafone to offer broadband access

Vodafone will offer fixed-line broadband access in the UK before the end of the year, the mobile phone operator said on Monday, joining many of its competitors in offering multiple services.

Vodafone said on Monday it would use fixed-line infrastructure owned by BT Group, the incumbent UK telecoms company, to offer customers bundled packages of mobile and broadband services.

Nick Read, Vodafone’s UK chief executive, said: “Today’s announcement is a strategically important step in the evolution of Vodafone’s business in the UK.”

The announcement follows similar moves by Vodafone’s rivals both in the UK and overseas to expand their range of services amid slowing growth and increasing competition.

Orange, owned by France Telecom, earlier this year began to offer broadband services to some customers. NTL, which uses its cable network to provide fixed-line telephony, broadband and television, bought the Virgin Mobile brand to expand into mobile telephony. Carphone Warehouse, the UK mobile phone retailer, is bundling broadband internet with fixed-line and mobile telephony.