Ofcom tells BT to give rival carriers access to dark fibre network
Plans from Ofcom will force BT to allow rival companies to access the fibre optic lines used for business broadband.
The aim of the scheme is to increase competition and the watchdog has said that firms such as TalkTalk, Vodafone and Sky should be allowed to access the network. The plans mean that the different companies will be able to use their own equipment at the end of the fibre optic systems, which will enable them to bypass the BT system and create their own networks. At the present time these companies have to pay to access BT’s equipment, although the cost of this is regulated.
Vodafone is set to benefit from more control over the way in which mobile masts are linked and TalkTalk could be able to offer cheaper and faster superfast broadband. The competition group director at Ofcom, Jonathan Oxley, said that the proposals will encourage “more innovation, faster installations and more competition”.
The proposals are currently in a consultation phase and will remain so until the end of July. BT is currently dominating this market and the proposals are considered a blow to the company, which is naturally opposing the scheme. BT is being supported by some companies with their own fibre-optic infrastructure, such as Virgin Media.
More competition may help to ease concerns that have been raised about BT’s plan to purchase EE, which could give BT even more dominance in the marketplace.