Ofcom Proposes BT, KCOM as UK Broadband Universal Service Providers

   By Oliver Griffin 
 

U.K. media regulator Ofcom said it has proposed to designate BT Group PLC (BT.A.LN) and KCOM Group PLC (KCOM.LN) as Britain's broadband universal service providers.

In March, the U.K. Government introduced legislation for a broadband universal service obligation, giving eligible homes and businesses the right to request a decent broadband connection.

Ofcom, which is responsible for implementing the obligation, asked telecoms companies in June to come forward as prospective universal service providers and received eight expressions of interest.

Ofcom said BT, KCOM and Hyperoptic satisfied its criteria but that the latter subsequently withdrew.

As a result, the regulator said it would propose BT as the universal service operator across the whole of the U.K. excluding the Hull region. KCOM will serve the Hull region, Ofcom said.

Ofcom said as the decision is still in consultation, other operators still have the opportunity to come forward.

Write to Oliver Griffin at [e-mail]; @OliGGriffin

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 05, 2018 06:13 ET (11:13 GMT)

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