Other providers of internet services, such as AOL, have complained bitterly that they are not able to offer the services customers want because of the lack of access to BT's local network.

BBC: BT forced to open network

These devices can be accessed by smart phones as well as tablet computers through WiFi and thus offer higher speed access to content stored in the local network.

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Customers can make phone calls, send faxes, access the Internet, transfer images, transmit videos and log on remotely to a local area network.

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Network architecture will need to change in the next five years, moving toward more local Internet access.

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As long as BT controls the "local loop", the last link from the network to a phone or modem, and insists on metered access, it hardly pays to offer unmetered web deals.

BBC: Unmetered web access in trouble