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By Staff (EUNN) London - Cable & Wireless PLC (LSE: CW) is quiting the home broadband market and laying off 150 employees in ist Bulldog Broadband unit as a result of the move. Bulldog Broadband will not concentrate ist marketing efforts in the wholesale broadband arena C&W said. The local loop rollout plan is unchanged with a target of 800 fully unbundled exchanges by 30 September 2006, (411 unbundled at 31 March 2006). It is intended that, by the end of this calendar year (2006), Cabel & Wireless wlil use this local loop capability for corporate customer access, in addition to the wholesale offer provided. Starting July 1, Bulldog will offer a a wholesale product to major broadband service providers. Cable & Wireless expects limited benefits from the move to wholesale during 2006/07 as Bulldog completes the local loop roll out and invests in wholesaling capability. Specific guidance will be provided at the interim results on 8 November 2006. In statement released Thursday, John Pluthero, Group Managing Director, UK said, "As the marekt leader in full local loop unbundling, we have been looking at the best way to maximise the return on our investmnet. We believe that a wholesaling approach to the consumer and SME market is the best way to optimise our return from oru unique local loop network capability." Shares of Cable & Wireless closed up 50 pence at 106.50p on the London Stock Exchange Thursday.
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