The UK's alternative network operators have hit out at incumbent Openreach for threatening to curtail its fibre rollout plans if upcoming regulatory changes do not meet with its satisfaction.
We knew last week that Openreach CEO Clive Selley's comments in a Financial Times interview would raise the hackles of the altnets.
And essentially those feelings are that Ofcom needs to do its job properly: to regulate fairly between the incumbent and the altnets, so that if Openreach chooses not to see its fibre investment plan through, the altnets have the chance of stepping into the breach.
As a reminder, Selley told the paper that he will hold back on applying for the necessary approvals for the last 5 million homes in its fibre rollout plan until Ofcom finalises its Telecoms Access Review (TAR), due to come into force next year. As we well know, Openreach recently extended its fibre network to 20 million premises and is on track to reach 25 million by the end of next year, rising to 30 million by 2030.
