UK - Faster broadband roll-out urged by Ofcom

[bbc] Ofcom has unveiled new proposals to encourage the rollout of super-fast broadband across the UK.

The regulator is proposing that BT's fibre lines are opened so rival firms such as Sky and TalkTalk can provide their own services to consumers.

BT would then be able to set prices for these new wholesale products to enable them to make a fair rate of return.

Ofcom hopes its plans will lead to millions more consumers enjoying speeds of 50 to 100 megabits per second.

The plan is similar to the way BT's copper telephone network was opened to rival phone and broadband services.

Ofcom also proposed in its report that BT should offer other communications providers access to its underground ducts and overhead telegraph poles.

The regulator hopes that this would allow other communications providers to build their own fibre networks more cost-effectively.

Ofcom said that its proposals were aimed at helping companies to compete to invest in these new networks.

Faster broadband roll-out urged by Ofcom