BT wants end to rivals' cheap access to its network

[Simon]

BT has called on the UK's telecoms regulator to end the "pricing distortion" which gives its biggest rivals access to its wholesale broadband network.

Under current rules from Ofcom, companies can install their own equipment in BT's exchanges at a regulated price, called local-loop unbundling (LLU).

BT claims that price is below cost, giving Sky and TalkTalk a "leg-up" in broadband for almost a decade.

"TalkTalk and Sky have enjoyed subsidies for the best part of a decade but it is time for that to end," said the CEO of BT's Consumer division, John Petter. "Both are successful companies and both are more than capable of standing on their own two feet."

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/387364/bt-wants-end-to-rivals-cheap-access-to-its-network

[nowster]

Time for BT to be properly split into wholesale and retail companies, rather than the "chinese wall" arrangement we have now.

[pctech]

Or even better, make Openreach a mutual nonprofit owned by all the telcos, it would own the exchange buildings, equipment and access network.

[Technical Ben]

But that would be a good idea...