UK Regulator Plans to Widen Rivals' Access to BT's Openreach
24 July 2018 - 5:39PM
Dow Jones News
By Adria Calatayud
The U.K.'s Office of Communications is planning to make BT Group
PLC's (BT.A.LN) Openreach network arm offer competitors
unrestricted access to Openreach infrastructure as the regulators
seeks to boost investment in fiber connectivity.
Ofcom outlined its proposals to support long-term investment in
full-fiber networks on Tuesday--one day after the U.K. government
set out plans to boost broadband connectivity with the goal of
having coverage across the whole country by 2033.
Ofcom said it will hold consultations on allowing competing
providers to have unrestricted access to Openreach's ducts and
poles. Access to Openreach's infrastructure would extend to
companies offering high-speed lines for large businesses, as well
as networks carrying data for mobile operators, as it is currently
restricted to those offering residential and small-business
services, the regulator said.
The duration of regulatory reviews will be extended to 5 years
or more from the current 3-year duration to provide more
longer-term certainty to investors, Ofcom said. Business and
residential markets will be regulated together, while different
regulatory approaches will be taken in different parts of the U.K.,
Ofcom said.
BT, Liberty Global PLC's (LBTYA) Virgin Media, Vodafone Group
PLC (VOD.LN), TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC (TALK.LN) and CityFibre
Infrastructure have all committed to laying full-fiber broadband
networks in the U.K., Ofcom said.
Write to Adria Calatayud at
adria.calatayudvaello@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 24, 2018 03:24 ET (07:24 GMT)
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