Ofcom report – a step towards opening BT's infrastructure

Ofcom report gives recommendation for workable model for duct access

In a step towards the opening of BT’s infrastructure to competitors, Ofcom has published a report, called Operational models for shared duct access, with a series of recommendations for BT and communications suppliers to create a workable model.

This process will create competition and potentially reduce the cost of broadband rollout and supply because it will allow smaller ISPs to provide services without laying their own network, which is prohibitively expensive.

When BT announced that it would open its ducts in January, one issue raised by analysts was that of how costs would be spread – but there was no mention of this in the report.

Another issue was that of space. There were a series of recommendations around this and the report stated that: "Co-operative space application should also be encouraged in the UK, should a duct and pole access offer be implemented, as this reduces costs for CPs and also encourages the efficient use of space."

One of six recommendations around space stated that engineers should define a “set of priority-based rules” dictating how space should be used.

Other recommendations made by the report include the creation of a framework to record infrastructure access requests and a recommendation that there should be a limit to the number of requests a service provider can make to avoid overloading Openreach.

It also recommended whole-area surveying for the first communications provider, with secondary route surveying for subsequent providers.

The report was compiled by consulting and research company Analysys Mason.