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Broadband competition reaches "significant milestone"
Tuesday 11th August 2009, by Daniel King
The level of competition in the broadband internet services sector has been highlighted in a new report published by Ofcom today (August 11th).
According to the broadcasting and telecommunications watchdog, the industry has now reached a "significant milestone" in having available over six million unbundled lines available in the UK.
This means service providers like Sky, Tiscali and TalkTalk are able to use BT's copper-wired network to ensure British surfers have more choice when it comes to selecting the package that is right for them.
Previously, it was ruled by Ofcom the latter firm would need to open its cabling up to other such carriers to increase levels of competition in the market - a move it duly undertook in the forming of its Openreach division.
Since this was established in 2005, BT has been unbundling the lines across the UK to allow more than 30 different providers access to the system - and it has now been confirmed the number has gone from 123,000 to six million during this time.
It added the number of options now available to both residential and business customers has been responsible for driving up overall broadband take up and bringing process down.
The group said: "In September 2005, 37 per cent of households and small businesses had broadband - today the figure is 65 per cent."
Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, also explained: "In just four years unbundling has gone from a flicker on the dial to a major competitive force in telecoms."
This month also saw the group publish its fourth Communications Market Report.
