The Agenda Setters: Vallance fights off BT critics

Outgoing BT chairman Sir Iain Vallance has vigorously defended his decision to slow the development of broadband services.

Industry watchers have accused him of dragging his feet over the deployment of ADSL services and the unbundling of the local loop, but in this week's Agenda Setters, he denied the claims.

Vallance's said BT's strategy has always been to be at the forefront of broadband services and cutting call costs.

Speaking at the TMA conference, he said: "BT has the unenviable task of restraining over-exuberant children from dashing across the road at will and ensuring a safe and orderly crossing."

Vallance has been part of the UK technology landscape since he became chairman of BT in 1987. He had been with the telco since 1966, but is now planning to leave next year to dedicate himself to his vice-chairmanship role at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He was Involved in BT during the deregulation of the 1980s, and has had a massive role in shaping the company and the UK telecoms sector as a whole.

For the full Agenda Setters profile of Sir Iain Vallance, see Silicon.com's Telecoms channel.