Talk Talk seeks BT network regulation

The government needs to scrutinize broadband plans and help open up access to the national fiber network being rolled out by BT, according to Sir Charles Dunstone, founder and chairman of telecoms group TalkTalk.

Sir Charles said that Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, needed to regulate the cost of wholesale access to BT’s fiber network, which he said would mean lower prices for rivals such as TalkTalk. BT is not required to offer rivals a regulated price for its high speed fiber network in the same way as more traditional copper lines, with BT arguing that it needs to cover the costly rollout of the fiber to parts of the UK.