Openreach urges Ofcom to reject calls for restrictions

Openreach CEO Clive Selley has penned a blueprint for Ofcom to consider when writing its Telecoms Access Review, which will re-set the fibre rules for the next five years.

His wish list centres on maintaining the landscape created by the Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review of 2021. Primarily this would include rejecting calls from the industry to restrict how the incumbent competes.

Selley refers to these calls as self-interested, stating: “This would lead to higher prices, weaker competition and a dilution of choice for consumers and businesses. In fact, growing competition presents the opportunity to roll back regulation in many areas.

He added: “Given the thriving competition that’s evident today, we believe Ofcom should seek opportunities to complete the framework by addressing the challenges of moving to a full fibre world.

“For example, by supporting a drive for efficiency and enabling Openreach to retire legacy buildings and services where modern alternatives exist. Quality of Service (QoS) standards must also evolve to reflect the positive shift from copper to fibre.”

Selley also asks that Ofcom and Government require Virgin Media O2 and others to open their duct and pole networks on the same terms including price as Openreach’s duct and poles product.

These comments drew a strong response from Virgin Media O2, which said:  "Calling for regulatory intervention on others who are building alternative networks is a worrying and diversionary tactic that Openreach has used before with no success.

“The ability to use Virgin Media’s ducts on a commercial basis already exists, but Openreach has significant market power in the UK and a footprint that covers almost all of the country so it is right that it remains appropriately regulated to ensure it cannot use its monopolistic muscle to constrain emerging competition.

"Virgin Media O2 and others are building fibre to increase network choice in the UK and it’s important that Ofcom supports these investments so that truly scaled competition can be realised in future."