Ofcom tells BT to open its fibre network

It has been reported that UK communications regulator Ofcom has told telecoms and broadband giant BT to open its fibre network cables to rivals to boost the take up of super-fast broadband.

The UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has told telecoms and broadband giant BT that it must open up its fibre based network cables for rivals so that the take up of superfast broadband in the UK can be boosted. BT has also been told by Ofcom that it will have to give rival providers access to its underground ducts and telegraph poles so that they can build their own fibre networks.

BT has been given permission to set its own prices for this access for rival providers, and Ofcom has said that the move will enable it to support the ambitions of the government to roll out superfast broadband across the country. However, it also added that there was “a long way to go to deliver the networks of the future that the UK needs”.

Ofcom began its consultation into making the BT fibre network cables available to other providers in March of last year, and after making its decision it said that the new measures recognised that “different areas require different solutions”.

Ofcom said: “In areas where BT invests in fibre, the remedies will enable other providers to offer competing services, based on BT’s facilities. Elsewhere, access to BT’s ducts and poles should encourage investment by other providers, enabling the provision of superfast services and increasing competition.”

Another industry official stated: “Access to BT ducts makes it a lot easier and a lot cheaper and faster to rollout fibre. Access to poles has a good chance of providing extra infrastructure in the last third of country where no one has said they will specifically [roll out services].”

Source – BBC