Ofcom tells BT its rivals need better superfast broadband access

Businesses could benefit from improved access to superfast broadband in Britain under proposals from Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulator, to further open up BT’s fibre network for rivals to use.

Ofcom said that BT would need to give rival providers of business broadband the ability to take full control of services using its UK-wide fibre network. The proposals would mean that they need to pay less money to BT to use the network under wholesale rates, and could bring the cost to customers down if the savings were passed on. Ofcom is also proposing more stringent targets for BT to install business broadband lines. The regulator said the measures were designed to promote competition and innovation in the £2 billion market for “leased lines” — dedicated, high-speed data links used by large businesses and mobile and broadband operators to transfer data on their networks. Leased lines also provide vital, high-capacity links for schools, universities, libraries and other public bodies.