BT ordered to open up Openreach network to competitors

Updated

BT must open up its Openreach network to competitors after Ofcom concluded the UK must "do better" at rolling out superfast broadband and 4G mobile.

The regulator said BT must open up Openreach, which provides the final mile of network connection into consumers' homes, to allow rivals to build their own advanced fibre networks connected directly to homes and offices.

Ofcom stressed it had "absolutely not" ruled out full structural separation but was looking at alternatives to achieve the same goals more quickly and with potentially less disruption to consumers.

The regulator's Strategic Review of Digital Communications - its first significant review of the telecoms sector for a decade - said evidence showed Openreach "still has an incentive to make decisions in the interests of BT, rather than BT's competitors, which can lead to competition problems".

It has outlined a new strategy to promote large-scale roll-out of new ultrafast broadband networks, based on cable and fibre lines, as an alternative to the partly copper-based technologies being planned by BT.

It said supporting investment by rival providers would reduce the UK's reliance on Openreach and increase competitive pressure on its network.

The plans mean Openreach will have to open up its telegraph poles and ducts - the underground tunnels that carry telecoms lines - to allow rivals to build their own fibre networks.

Ofcom said: "Openreach must make it much easier for competitors to access this network, and provide comprehensive data on the nature and location of its ducts and poles.

"This new 'digital map' of the UK will allow competing operators to invest, plan and lay advanced networks, giving people more choice over how they receive their phone and broadband services."

The regulator also outlined plans to introduce tougher rules on faults, repairs and installations, transparent information on service quality and automatic compensation for consumers when things go wrong.

It said it would work with the Government to deliver a new universal right to fast, affordable broadband for every household and business in the UK and also intends to introduce new obligations in future spectrum licences to improve rural mobile coverage.

Ofcom chief executive Sharon White said: "People across the UK today need affordable, reliable phone and broadband services. Coverage and quality are improving, but not fast enough to meet the growing expectations of consumers and businesses.

"So today we've announced fundamental reform of the telecoms market - more competition, a new structure for Openreach, tougher performance targets, and a range of measures to boost service quality.

"Together, this means a better deal for telecoms users, which will improve the services and networks that underpin how we live and work."

Dan Howdle, telecoms spokesman at broadband and phone advice site Cable.co.uk, said Ofcom's recommendations for Openreach would be a blow to competitors such as Sky, TalkTalk and others who had long campaigned for a split.

He said: "Ofcom's decision to open up Openreach's poles and tunnelling to competitors and to give them more say in future strategic and budgetary decision-making goes halfway to alleviating competitor complaints, but stops short of addressing the prime concern.

"A recommendation to split would have absolutely been the right decision for the UK broadband industry but, in the short term at least, perhaps not for the 2.5 million UK homes that do not currently have access to superfast broadband."

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