Rural broadband prices set for regulation, says Ofcom
This article explains how “Communications regulator Ed Richards has told a House of Commons Select Committee that BT is unlikely to set an acceptable price for other operators to access its network of telegraph poles and underground ducts.
As such access is set to be vital for the creation of a new high-speed broadband network in rural areas, Mr Richards said he “anticipates” regulating the market so that it is economically viable for other operators to compete with BT. Traditionally, high-speed broadband has been associated with expensive programmes to dig up roads to lay new cables.
New trials, however, are re-using existing infrastructure such as telegraph poles, drains and existing cable ducts to lay high-speed cables.” I have to say this throws a very interesting light onto the operation of big privatised former monopolies.
A long way down the line from Maureen Lipman encouraging us to buy their shares in the Thatcher era BT still seem to have a strangle hold on much of the telecoms industry in this country. I don’t really know enough in detail to appreciate if this is a fair impression or not – if I have got it wrong I am sure you will let me know.