Telecoms watchdog Ofcom has announced that it will deregulate 70 per cent of the UK broadband market.

In a statement yesterday, the authority said that regulatory instruments designed to fuel competition and prevent monopolisation would be removed in areas of the country where the market was deemed to be robust enough to compete unaided.

The regions most likely to be deregulated are those with a high population density where there are multiple providers for consumers to choose from.

By relaxing competition legislation, Ofcom hopes that further innovation and development will be encouraged throughout the UK broadband industry.

However, the group said that it will remain committed to protecting consumer interests in areas where there insufficient competition by keeping regulatory frameworks in place

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "This is a major step forward in the UK broadband market reflecting the success we have had in promoting effective competition."

The announcement comes after Ofcom was awarded the right to deregulate parts of the UK market by the European Commission last month.