BT to "clamp down on broadband speed checkers"

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 6 Aug 2007 at 14:07

BT is planning to restrict internet service providers' access to broadband availability data, according to reports.

ISP Review reports "industry whispers" which indicate that BT will restrict access so that ISPs' availability checkers will only display information for a user's own exchange.

As things currently stand, ISPs that provide availability from any exchange are inadvertently revealing information about BT's ADSL network, specifically the virtual path (VP) that internet data takes from the local exchange to the national network backbone.

"However it's understood that the publishing of such information, specifically where anybody can view the VP data of any exchange, may actually be in breach of BT's Data Protection terms," the site claims.

The website adds that any change will not affect ISPs that only provide local availability.

BT has not responded to a request for comment.