back to article Comms providers call on Ofcom to get tough on Openreach

Communications providers Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone have called on Ofcom to dramatically reform BT's Openreach in a "10 point plan" published today. The action plan published by membership body the Federation of Communication Services (FCS) follows a decision by Ofcom not to recommend a structural separation of Openreach …

  1. Commswonk

    Are you sure about that?

    He said: "It is very important that there is clarity of decisions made and that they are designed to act in the interests as (of, surely) Openreach as a separate entity rather than in the interest of BT plc."

    What I think he means is "act in the interests of the FCS".

    Which may or may not be a good thing...

  2. djstardust

    Ha ha

    Offcom are useless. Nothing will change until someone in charge grows a set of balls. Sharon better start taking those testosterone supplements.

  3. TheManCalledStan

    It's essentially, "We would like you to hobble BT at all levels, not just BT Wholesale and Openreach", then whilst BT are completely screwed competitively be profitable...and still not invest anything in creating our own networks".

    Noticeable, that VM and other network owners like Cityfibre and Gigaclear are signatories... FCS - who are Sky, Vodafone and Talk Talks plans only benefit those who use OR architecture for their networks.

    OFCOM and UKgov have been the architects of the debacle that is UK SFBB, by being unable to look to or plan for the future... then subsequently realise that their best for the consumer orientated plans don't work for a dynamic technology based infrastructure that evolves faster than they can run a market consultation!

    1. Roland6 Silver badge

      Noticeable, that VM and other network owners like Cityfibre and Gigaclear are not signatories...

      Signatories are:

      Jeremy Darroch, Group CEO, Sky

      Dido Harding, CEO, TalkTalk

      Jeroen Hoencamp, CEO, Vodafone UK

      Malcolm Corbett, CEO, Independent Networks Cooperative Association

      Chris Pateman, CEO, Federation of Communication Services

      For full letter and 10 point plan see:

      http://www.fcs.org.uk/who-we-are/latest-news/fcs-inca-sky-talk-talk-and-vodafone-launch-10-point-plan-for-a-better-openreach

      What is also highly noticeable is the total absence of any commitment to actually invest in the independent Openreach they so desperately want. So Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk put your hands in your pockets and match BT's commitment and invest £6Bn each in Openreach by 2020. By my reconning that would given Openreach a total investment pot of £24Bn; sufficient for a 100% coverage deployment of FTTP...

  4. Alan Brown Silver badge

    Same old same old

    BT get to lever their monopoly to achieve dominance in other sectors.

    This is an issue for the competition commission. No company should own retail _and_ distribution networks. This wasn't allowed when the power networks were privatised and it's doing substantial economic damage.

    1. chris 17 Silver badge
      Alert

      Re: Same old same old

      Ok, so VM, KCom and the new lot running fibre and wireless to rural areas should also hand over their networks for rivals too.

      I'd be fully in favour of a level playing field where i could get my ISP of choice on my network of choice. SKY BB over VM's network is appealing to me (had terrible customer service from NTL/VM lasting over a year & ongoing and after i left them) but i suspect VM don't see it that way and would rather turn a profit on their significant investments.

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Same old same old

      The retail power companies do own the last mile power distribution networks, Alan. SSE own the network where I live in the south east.

      1. Roland6 Silver badge

        Re: Same old same old

        The retail power companies do own the last mile power distribution networks, Alan.

        Not always, most new estates in the UK going back several decades are connected to the Transco gas grid through independent gas transporters who charge a fixed fee for their service.

        [ https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/independent-gas-transporters/ ]

  5. Dr.Flay

    Try complaining about your internet service to BT, and you are told very clearly that "Openreach is not BT, it is a different company".

    You obviously ask "but why does it say BT Openreach on the van ?", and the disembodied voice on the phone answers with something to the effect of "these are not the droids you are looking for".

    When it suits them, they hide behind it, or hold it at arms length.

    About time to make the final cut, or admit they are the same.

    However if they admit they are the same company, then their tenders for cabling jobs to them selves look as shady as they really are.

    before Openreach, the infrastructure was nothing to do with the ISPs, it was done by independent cable companies who could equally compete for real, not pretend, or as a token.

    Now we are often stuck with having to get a competing ISP only if you have a BT line.

    There should be no limitation to which ISP with which bit of cable. or phone service.

    That model has borked choice in the USA, and we can learn from it.

    Hmmm... what else have BT done to limit our options ?

    BT brought us the change from monthly, quarterly, and annual payments to a minimum of 18 months (because of rapid customer turnover, due to poor service and over-subscription).

    BT brought us the cancellation charge, so they can make also money for not providing a service (because of rapid customer turnover, due to poor service and over-subscription).

    BT brought us the end of phoning Ofcom for support tickets, because Ofcom could not handle the level of calls about BT.

    BT brought us fibre to the box at the end of the road (compared to the other companies that were connecting to the home).

    At every step of the way BT have been screwing users and the government, because they are not as capable as they pretend.

  6. Morgawr

    Openreach needs to consult with thier partners? When did any of these FCS crew become partners? Last time I checked, they were CUSTOMERS. Therefore, OR should invest and build out where ever THEY wish to do so. There is nothing stopping these other companies from building out from a near by cabinet to reach where they (FCS) wish to deliver their services. They could have OR for major backhaul and build out their own last mile connections, or miles as the case probably is.

  7. cathygerosa

    FCS members..

    re Stan's comment - I assume you meant to say VM and other network owners like Cityfibre and Gigaclear are NOT signatories...However, INCA are a signatory and they represent Cityfibre, Gigaclear and many other altnets.

    Sadly Sky and TalkTalk are not FCS members, though we do represent around 300 B2B CPs.

  8. BFG

    Competition - But only where we don't compete

    Point 9: Openreach is no longer the only provider BT can use.

    Point 10: Openreach does not inhibit investment by independent network operators

    So they want to prevent Openreach from operating networks where others have a presence and force the rest of BT to use that instead of Openreach?

    "We shouldn't have to compete with Openreach, so they should be barred instead"?

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