UK Regulator Plans to Widen Rivals' Access to BT's Openreach

By Adria Calatayud

The U.K.'s Office of Communications is planning to make BT Group PLC's (BT.A.LN) Openreach network arm offer competitors unrestricted access to Openreach infrastructure as the regulators seeks to boost investment in fiber connectivity.

Ofcom outlined its proposals to support long-term investment in full-fiber networks on Tuesday--one day after the U.K. government set out plans to boost broadband connectivity with the goal of having coverage across the whole country by 2033.

Ofcom said it will hold consultations on allowing competing providers to have unrestricted access to Openreach's ducts and poles. Access to Openreach's infrastructure would extend to companies offering high-speed lines for large businesses, as well as networks carrying data for mobile operators, as it is currently restricted to those offering residential and small-business services, the regulator said.

The duration of regulatory reviews will be extended to 5 years or more from the current 3-year duration to provide more longer-term certainty to investors, Ofcom said. Business and residential markets will be regulated together, while different regulatory approaches will be taken in different parts of the U.K., Ofcom said.

BT, Liberty Global PLC's (LBTYA) Virgin Media, Vodafone Group PLC (VOD.LN), TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC (TALK.LN) and CityFibre Infrastructure have all committed to laying full-fiber broadband networks in the U.K., Ofcom said.

Write to Adria Calatayud at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 24, 2018 03:24 ET (07:24 GMT)

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