British Regulator Confirms Rules to Boost Broadband Investment

   By Adria Calatayud 
 

The U.K.'s communications regulator on Wednesday confirmed a set of measures aimed at boosting investment in full-fiber broadband networks, and further eased its price-control proposal on BT Group PLC's (BT.A.LN) charges to rivals.

The British Office of Communications, or Ofcom, said that BT Group's network division, Openreach, must open its telegraph poles and underground tunnels to rival providers, making it quicker and easier for them to build their own full-fiber networks directly to households around the U.K.

Ofcom said it will set a monthly price of 12.06 pounds ($17.10) for providers using Openreach's physical infrastructure for its basic superfast broadband service by 2021. Last month, the regulator said it intended to set that price at GBP11.92, and it had earlier proposed a GBP11.23 monthly charge.

Ofcom also said it won't regulate the prices of Openreach's fastest wholesale products, but said the new rules will include stricter requirements on Openreach to repair faults and install new broadband lines more quickly.

When Ofcom published its draft measures in February, BT Group said the new rules would hit revenue and profit at Openreach.

Write to Adria Calatayud at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 28, 2018 02:58 ET (06:58 GMT)

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