BT plans £1.5b super broadband network

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 07:44

Opinion and Analysis

This is nothing more or less than what Telstra demanded for its network. The problem was that it professed little faith that, using the avenue available through the ACCC, it would end up with the result it wanted, and the Government refused to override the ACCC and revise the regulatory regime.

In the UK, Ofcom has the power to address these issues and to involve the whole industry in the process. Richards went on: "Over the last few weeks there has been a step change in the level of interest and engagement on [next generation access]  issues from a range of companies and organisations. This is excellent news and a development that I very much welcome. Now we have meaningful engagement, the time is right to change gear in our determination to address regulatory and other issues of practical implementation.

"We need to bring industry together to debate and resolve some critical issues. Ofcom will provide an important forum for debating and resolving these key issues with industry. That is why I have today written to leading CEOs across the communications sector to initiate a concerted dialogue on the key issues. Ofcom will host the first of a series of working sessions focused on practical action and resolution of areas of uncertainty as soon as possible."

When the Telstra FTTN plan was put 'on hold' indefinitely the Howard Government should have put in place a similar initiative to look at a long term solution. Instead, it dithered, the ALP stepped into the policy vacuum with its hastily conceived and poorly researched March 2007 broadband policy document which, having gained government it is now struggling to implement.