Category: Regulation

The leased line market is set for a big shakeup with Ofcom proposing Ethernet services from BT see price reductions of up to CPI - 17.75% over a three years.

Version 3 of the Ofcom voluntary broadband speed code of practice is now available, with numerous changes giving the consumer a little more power.

The first speech of the new Ofcom boss Sharon White is to be about empowering consumers with the ability to switch broadband provider and improving their rights to exit contracts early.

The last Parliament as a coalition potentially had more checks and balances in place and the Queen's speech has laid out a new Investigatory Powers Bill that may worry more than just the criminals and terrorists.

The surprise proposal to force BT to open up its fibre networks for dark fibre access has many pros and cons, not the least of which is that access to the extensive BT network might undermine emerging businesses like CityFibre.

It seems that any estimates of roll-out dates for broadband services need to be based on a 'robust calculation', which means rather than soft tissue paper a decent heavy card be used to carry out the estimated go-live date for any fibre cabinets.

While the recent input from the EU does not change the fact that BT are meeting the current margin squeeze test between wholesale and retail pricing, it may have implications further down the road.

We wonder are calls for a USO on broadband and indication that the various broadband projects are not going to reach 100% superfast coverage ever?

The previous Ofcom Strategic Review ten years ago created Openreach and set the ground for the explosion of LLU services but with the Internet being central to many more daily activities the stakes are perhaps even higher for the next review that is starting.

The latest National Audit Office report on the BDUK phase 1 progress has just been published and estimates that the UK will hit 90% superfast broadband coverage by the end of 2015.