Telecom group to launch attack on BT broadband 'monopoly'

A group of telecom firms have reportedly banded together to denounce the market “monopoly” held by BT.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, the group has accused the regulator of supporting too many crowd-pleasing moves, and will this week launch an attack on BT’s hierarchy over the business broadband market.

The group, which includes Sky, EE, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone, is hoping to establish more control over high-capacity data links.

In its calls for change, the firms will request that Ofcom allow them to install cables in BT ducts and control BT’s cables with their own equipment, an arrangement referred to as “dark fibre”.

The coalition of companies will argue that while Openreach has delivered decreasing prices and increasing speeds for consumers, the business market has been overrun by BT.

They will also claim that Openreach’s control has stifled innovation and has harmed their business with its slow repair rate, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

A report by UKCTA revealed that in five years, Openreach has failed to meet some of its performance targets and this has an impact on companies that all rely on the service to reach their customers.

A BT spokesman told the Sunday Telegraph: “We believe that forcing Openreach to offer access to its ducts or dark fibre would increase costs and add extra complexity to the way UK businesses are served.”