Ofcom Opens Probe Into BT's Compliance as Universal Broadband Provider -- Update
15 Ottobre 2020 - 1:58PM
Dow Jones News
--U.K. regulator opens investigation into telecommunications
company
--Ofcom is concerned BT might not be correctly complying with
regulatory conditions
--BT strongly disagrees with regulator's assessment
By Adria Calatayud
U.K. regulator Ofcom said Thursday that it has opened an
investigation into BT Group PLC's compliance with its obligations
as a broadband universal service provider.
The regulator said it is concerned the U.K. telecommunications
company might not be correctly complying with regulatory conditions
where it assesses excess costs for a given connection.
Under rules introduced in 2018, customers can request an
upgraded connection from BT if they can't receive affordable
broadband services with a certain minimum speed, the regulator
said. Ofcom's conditions set out how BT should assess the costs of
providing a connection.
The regulator said it will now gather evidence and expects to
determine its next steps before the end of the year.
BT shares at 1108 GMT were down 3.3% at 102.50 pence.
In response, BT said it strongly disagrees with Ofcom's
assessment of its delivery of the universal service obligation.
"We are disappointed that they have opened an investigation when
we're fully committed to working with both Ofcom and the government
to find better ways to connect the hardest to reach," a BT
spokesperson said.
The FTSE 100 company said it appreciates that universal service
obligation quotes can be unaffordable for some of the most remote
properties, and said it is working to enable communities to be able
to share the costs of connections to drive down costs for
individuals.
BT said it is already building connections to 4,000 premises
through the universal service obligation program. However, the
company said the current approach needs to change, as it doesn't
overcome the challenges of connecting the most difficult places,
which represent 0.5% of the country.
Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 15, 2020 07:43 ET (11:43 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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