Ofcom proposes opening up BT fibre lines, underground ducts

bealtine

Ofcom has unveiled new proposals to promote the roll-out of faster broadband in the UK. The new proposals are aimed at helping companies to compete to invest in new fibre networks. Firstly, Ofcom is proposing that BT's fibre lines are opened up so that rival firms – such as Sky, TalkTalk and others - can provide their own services to consumers. BT would then be able to set prices for these new wholesale products to enable them to make a fair rate of return. Secondly, Ofcom is proposing that BT offers other communications providers access to its underground ducts and overhead telegraph poles. This would allow other communications providers to build their own fibre networks more cost effectively. The proposals also look at promoting further competition in current generation broadband. Ofcom has initially concluded that broadband competition is effective in large parts of the country and for over 70 percent of the population there will be no regulations applied. However, in the least competitive areas, where consumers only have access to copper-based broadband services from BT (around 14% of UK premises), Ofcom proposes some locally specific price controls to protect consumers against excessive prices. The proposals are outlined in two new consultations published on 23 March, a review of the wholesale broadband access market and a review of wholesale local access market, with both consultations closing on 01 June.

Sponge Bob

Very interesting. Ofcom are enhancing regulation for BT Bitstream only areas while begininng to unbundle the ACCESS network as well as exchanges for the LLU operators.

As against only 14% of premises servable exclusively by BT we would be looking at 60% or 70% servable exclusively by eircom here...excepting Cabled households I think ...in both countries.