It's reported that BT and Ofcom are in discussions that could result in rival ISPs being given access to the UK operator’s fibre optic broadband ducts (underground tubes where fibre optic cable can be run). This would allow BT's competitors to deploy their own fibre optic cable infrastructure without having to dig up any roads, assuming that the costs and regulations were fair.


Several ISPs, including TalkTalk and Sky Broadband UK, have expressed frustration at the lack of flexibility found in BT Wholesale's new 'up to' 40Mbps FTTC broadband products. That frustration is understandable because most unbundled ( LLU ) providers relish their ability to offer diverse packages that do not rely upon BT.

Sadly unbundled flexibility is easily lost within the confines of a standard wholesale product, which is presently the only way to get FTTC. One solution could be for the major broadband operators to invest in deploying their own fibre optic infrastructure. However, without access to BT's ducts, this could easily become very expensive in parts of the country where the only alternative would be to dig up roads.

The move might even save BT Wholesale having to make its products more competitive and thus less profitable. It could also be viewed as favourable by an incoming Conservative government. Suffice to say that BT is keep one foot on both sides of the fence, while still also offering support for Labour's 50p +vat per month fixed phone line next gen broadband tax.

UPDATE 12:20pm

BT has kindly sent us a full copy of Ian Livingston's statement, which the FT did not publish.


The additional paragraph is quite interesting, especially since a number of operators are already rolling out FTTH fibre optic broadband networks even without access to BT's ducts. i3 Group in particular is busy in the cities of Bournemouth and Dundee.

It's also worth looking at this from another angle, one that could see BT being given access to any ducts owned by its rivals. That is surely a crucial point and one that could be difficult for smaller suppliers to manage. On the other hand, as per our earlier remark, it all comes down to money and regulation.