British telecoms watchdog Ofcom has given the green light to BT to recruit extra engineers to reduce the time it takes to connect ISPs’ local loop customers to the internet.

Under BT’s Openreach programme, an engineer is required to connect the broadband user’s landline to the ISP’s LLU(Local Loop Unbundling) kit inside the local BT exchange but the UK’s market, particularly demand for LLU services with the launch of ‘Free Broadband’ services, has been “very strong”, according to BT.

A BT spokeswoman said: “This is part of an overall drive to improve our service levels… We are looking to recruit engineers and around 400 telecoms apprentices.” Asked why the company needed so many more engineering staff, she said: “There is a lot of new LLU players coming into the market and we are working hard to ensure that we are able to give them the levels of service they require.”

Ofcom’s approval for additional engineering staff is mandatory and designed to prevent BT’s internet and infrastructure divisions from favouring its own BT Retail.