Take-up of these lines is growing as consumers use more data on smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs, and companies shift ever-increasing amounts of information between locations to support sophisticated internet services. BT is already required to offer wholesale leased line products, which bundle the fibre-optic cable and BT’s own network equipment, at regulated prices to competitors. BT would still be required to provide these services, but with dark fibre, competitors will be able to use their own equipment, rather than relying on BT’s.
Ofcom expects that this will increase the opportunity for competitors to create tailored, high-capacity data links at cost-effective prices for their customers. Ofcom is also proposing to place new, minimum quality of service performance requirements on Openreach, the division of BT that installs and maintains connections to BT's network on behalf of competing providers. The watchdog is concerned that Openreach often takes too long to install leased lines, and too often changes the date on which it promises to deliver services.
The consultation closes on 21 July and Ofcom expects to publish its final decisions in the first quarter of 2016, taking effect in April. BT would have to publish a reference offer by the middle of 2016, subject to consultation for adoption of a final reference by the end of the year, and service launch in April 2017.
