The row between the allocation of broadband services from ISP's such as Freeserve and AOL and BT is intensifying after it has been claimed that BTopenworld can add up to 2,000 new ADSL customers per week and ISP's are given only 100 per week.

A spokesperson for AOL stated that they are not in a position to offer a competitive service and feel that BT are blatantly abusing their position in the market. Freeserve are also angered stating that BT are openly admitting that they are restricting the market share for other broadband providers because of the levels of allocation that are granted to competitors by BT.

Both Freeserve and AOL are threatening legal action and are calling on OFTEL to investigate further into this issue.

BT are stating that the complaints made by Freeserve and AOL is purely a case of sour grapes as they state that ISPs' have not been placing enough orders. BT have guaranteed that every ISP will get 40% of their orders and if AOL were to order the same number for ADSL as BTopenworld, they would be treated the same.

However, Chris Gibbs who is the vice president at BT Ignite claims that they cannot guarantee 40%, but they will install as many as possible. Interestingly enough, he also stated that he did not think that BTopenworld are getting 2,000 installs per week as earlier quoted by another representative of BT.