UK Communications Watchdog Fines BT Over Northern Ireland Tender -- Update

   By Adria Calatayud 
 

U.K. communications regulator Ofcom said Friday that it has fined BT Group PLC 6.3 million pounds ($8.4 million) for failing to meet regulatory obligations during the tender for a public sector telecoms contract in Northern Ireland.

The regulator said BT's network arm didn't provide the same network information to bid teams from BT and telecom company eircom Group Ltd. in a tender between April 2017 and March 2018, as required under Ofcom rules. BT's bid won the contract in June 2018, the regulator said.

Ofcom said it doesn't believe that the breaches it found were deliberate, and that its fine was reduced to reflect BT's agreement to settle the investigation by admitting full liability. BT and its Openreach arm cooperated with Ofcom's investigation, the regulator said.

"We are considering our options in light of today's decision and BT's admission of liability," Philip O'Meara, regional director of eir Business Northern Ireland, said.

A BT spokesperson said the company cooperated with and accepted Ofcom's findings, and that it has already put measures in place to prevent its errors from happening again.

Write to Adria Calatayud at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 11, 2020 11:12 ET (16:12 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.