Reaching out

16 July 2015 By Robert Cole

Britain’s telecoms giant has invested an impressive 10 bln stg in national fibre-optic broadband over the last decade. But times have changed. Ofcom’s regulatory review is a good time for a rethink. A division might now allow capital to be raised and deployed more efficiently.

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Ofcom, the UK media regulator, has said it will examine whether BT, the British telecoms and media company, should be fully separated from its Openreach fibre-and-wire telecoms infrastructure unit.

Sharon White, Ofcom chief executive, said: “Our priorities are clear. We want to promote competition, investment and innovation, so that everyone benefits from even better coverage, choice, price and quality of service in years to come”.

BT said on July 16 that Ofcom has overseen a regime that has “balanced investment with competition”. It said it hoped it would: “once again put the needs of the UK and its consumers ahead of those who have tried to keep the UK in the digital dark ages”.

Sky, one of BT’s leading competitors, said: “For too long, consumers and businesses have been suffering because the existing structure does not deliver the innovation, competition and quality of service that they need”.

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