Ofcom tells BT - Give rivals access to the 'dark-fibre' grid

In reference to www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/btdota/11607319/Ofcom...:

Ofcom tells BT to give rivals access to its 'dark-fibre' grid

Telecoms giant will face more rivalry from competitors as it is told to open up access to its high-speed network

The proposal is aimed at increasing competition in the "leased-lines" market worth £2bn a year, Ofcom said in a statement on Friday.

Such lines are dedicated, high-speed links used by companies as well as mobile- phone and broadband carriers to transfer data.

BT should give rivals physical access to its fibre-optic cables, allowing competing operators to take direct control of the connection, Ofcom said.

Blow to BT: Ofcom proposes 'dark fibre' rules to let rivals take control of business lines. Also new installation deadlines for Openreach.

Yep, and in a less well publicised ruling at the same time .....

I'm to let Virgin Media engineers use me transit and tools as and when they want, they can also claim for half my wages, my first born child, and the fillings from my teeth !

That is totally wrong.

Why should BTs investments be used to subsidise companies that cannot be bothered to build their own infrastructure? You can be certain that as soon as BT tell competitors what the costs will be there will be complaints about "excessive charging".

On day OFCOM will realise what a "level playing field" actually is, because at the moment there is certainly a steep slope on the one they use.

[applause]

This was the expected regulatory 'cost' of the EE merger.

There is a solution, never install spare fibre that can be available for dark fibre use.

Indeed. Would be profoundly counter-productive though.

BT aren't the first and won't be the last incumbent compelled to deliver dark fibre. Could be worse. NTT were both compelled to deliver dark fibre and spin off their retail arm.

I imagine this will also be part of allowing Openreach and Wholesale to merge.

BT are required to say that the sky will fall in though it really won't be that damaging in the grand scheme.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

There is a solution, never install spare fibre that can be available for dark fibre use.

This isn't about allowing access to existing unused fibre, but rather compelling BT to provide 'just' the fibre without the optical NTEs.

Dear Mr Virgin,

I want to fly some aircraft from Heathrow every day, please give me 10 of your unused slots.

Thank you,

Mr FlyByDay.


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Dear Mr Ford,

I need to build cars in the UK. Please provide two of your productions lines for my use from next Wednesday.

Mr Hyundai

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Virgin and Ford were never under public ownership though. Whilst BT is no longer under public ownership, the Government might feel like they have some say over it.