BT claims that proposals by Openreach to build a large-scale FTTP network across the country have broad support among communications providers. Openreach ran a consultation from mid-July to end-September to see if there was sufficient demand for a large FTTP network that could deliver Gigabit speeds and more reliable broadband services for decades to come.
BT said the consultation showed broad agreement from communications providers that FTTP would safeguard UK's position as a leading digital economy. However, in order to build a viable FTTP business case, Openreach has highlighted several key enablers that need to be put in place through close co-operation between Openreach, Ofcom, communications providers and the government.
These enablers include a supportive policy and regulatory environment that promotes investment; 'FTTP switchover', with Ofcom recommending that all customers are switched to any new FTTP network as quickly as possible after it has been built in a given area; Openreach proving that it can build FTTP at scale at competitive cost; and an agreement on how to fairly recover investment costs.
Openreach said that some communications providers (CPs) were interested in sharing the risk of investment in return for preferential terms on the infrastructure. It will now consider all the responses and options to develop a network strategy, and will then consult on a more specific set of proposals covering potential pricing, footprint and automatic switchover by end-2017.
