07/08/2017

Charges for access to the Openreach network of underground ducts and telegraph poles that form the essential infrastructure of the UK broadband network will be capped by Ofcom in order to boost competition by helping create a level playing field for smaller firms offering alternative fibre broadband networks.

These proposals follow Ofcom’s ‘Consultation on duct and pole remedies’, which was carried out as part of the wholesale local access (WLA) market review. It sought views in general terms on how Openreach should provide access to its physical infrastructure and what it could be used for.

‘WLA Market Review: Consultation on pricing proposals for Duct and Pole Access remedies’ supplements that consultation by setting out detailed pricing proposals on the setting of rental charges, the financial limit for the recovery of network adjustment costs and changes to regulatory financial reporting requirements.

It should also be considered alongside proposals in ‘Consultation on duct and pole remedies’ (above) to give other telecoms providers access to BT’s duct and pole infrastructure.