Posted: 19th Nov, 2004 By: MarkJ
UKIF, a sizable group of smaller ISP's, has described Ofcom's telecoms market review as a missed opportunity. The group had hoped to see the market opened up "
to greater competition, innovation and investment":
In a dig at Ofcom UKIF said: "The key phrases in Ofcom's review are that it seeks 'a significant shift in BT's behaviour' but 'looks to the management of BT to provide prompt and clear proposals which will achieve such a change'.
UKIF notes that whilst Ofcom seeks to avoid 'the regulatory battles of the last twenty years', it appears to be doing this by avoiding regulation itself and leaving it to BT to propose the way forward. If Ofcom will not regulate then what is its function?" it said.
UKCTA - an umbrella group representing a host of telcos including Cable & Wireless, Colt, Energis, NTL and Thus - was less critical of Ofcom's review. It reckons Ofcom's got BT by the short and curlies.UKIF's comments are certainly in stark contrast to that of the UKCTA and also the Communications Management Association (CMA). BT itself gave a cautious welcome to the review, much as you'd expect. More @
The Register.