In theory....
BT should be charging the same for backhaul to competitors as to its own business, and thus the advantage to BT, and disadvantage to the likes of 3 UK would be minimised. Unfortunately with OFCOM very much a "failed state" amongst regulators, there's no transparency on this at all, and we can expect BT to run rings round the OFCOM numpties and ensure that its business is favoured over competitors.
The simple solution would be for government to refer the proposed transaction the Competition & Markets Authority, with a strong steer that Openreach needs to be demerged from BT's other businesses (or at the very least legally and financially separated, with proper public reporting of related party transactions). Probably about time that the VM cable empire was subject to similar rules on third party access as well.
Sadly snow-covered pigs will be flying in hell before the bunglers of Westminster or at Southwark Bridge Road do anything useful. And the net result when they enthusiastically rubber stamp BT's plans will be reduced competition in all fixed and mobile markets, and higher customer charges.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
