Posted: 22nd Sep, 2005 By: MarkJ
Following Ofcoms earlier Telecoms Review, in which BT was threatened with a possible break-up if it failed to comply with the new proposals, today BT Group has officially accepted the new legally-binding undertakings:
In more than 230 separate undertakings, the Board of BT Group plc has agreed to substantive structural, product and governance changes, affecting both its current and future networks.
Ofcom believes the undertakings will:
* allow all communications providers to gain real equality of access to critical BT infrastructure on fair and equal terms, encouraging investment in infrastructure and enabling innovations through multiple services and the increasing deployment of next-generation technology;
* lead to lower prices and greater choice of products and services for consumers and businesses; and
* help to underpin the UKs industrial and economic competitiveness in the future.
Ofcom Chief Executive Stephen Carter said: After a full year of detailed consultation, Ofcom has accepted BTs commitments. The new management of Openreach and the Equality of Access Board must now deliver - and be seen to deliver.Those truly able to stomach the rather dull, yet important, details can spend a few hours trawling the final statement:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/telecoms_review/final_statement.htm