Ofcom Will Lead the Improvements of Openreach’s Infrastructure

A detailed set of plans have been set out by Ofcom that will lead to the improvement of Openreach’s infrastructure. The plans will make it easier and cheaper for competing providers to connect their own fibre broadband to homes and offices. It is thought that improving the competition in the network will lead to bigger benefits for the consumer. The changes will mean an increase in choice and innovation as the broadband companies will be able to offer better quality services at lower prices.

The new plans that have been laid out by Ofcom will also hopefully lead to a reduced reliance on Openreach. The country has historically been reliant on Openreach, which is a network business under the BT Group. It is thought that the plans will make it easier for BT’s competitors to construct and install their own network for fibre broadband. Ofcom’s plans will allow competitors to build their own fibre network using the telegraph poles and ‘ducts’ that have already been established by Openreach.

The main proposals by Ofcom includes access to BT’s ducts on fair terms, meaning that companies will be allowed to use the ducts and poles as easily as BT does. There has also been the suggestion that the cost to BT for providing access will be spread across all users. It has also been put forward that Openreach must work to see the repair of faulty infrastructure and blocked tunnels so other provider can access them. Ofcom has also proposed that companies can lay fibre for both consumers and large businesses as long as the purpose of the network is to deliver broadband. It has also been proposed that Openreach continue to provide a map of its network to allow competitors to plan new networks, and there should be the capacity available on telegraph pole for additional fibre cables to connect buildings to the competitors’ network.