18 November 2005
Ofcom has been urged not to remove regulatory constraints from BT in the home phone and telecoms sector, despite the firm having signed up to a pro-competitive framework in September.
Telecoms trade group UKCTA – whose members include Cable and Wireless, Colt and NTL – has said that BT still needs thorough monitoring as it departs further from its former status as a monopoly.
The organisation's Openreach programme, which allows all operators access to its services, is seen as a step in the right direction, but the group still believes that Ofcom is being premature in looking to reduce the regulations imposed upon BT.
Christine Roberts, director for external affairs at UKCTA, told The Register: "Rather than focusing on remedying these problems (relating to BT's competitiveness) Ofcom has issued another consultation about relaxing BT's Retail Regulation for large business customers.
"In the same breath, Ofcom admits that BT still has approximately 70 to 85 per cent of market share in this area, and that it is possible that BT may not in fact be strictly adhering to existing regulation in this market."
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