Openreach split from BT in landmark broadband deal
Uk broadband infrastructure will never be the same again after BT reached a deal with Ofcom to split from its Openreach division.
The industry regulator asked BT to legally separate from Openreach – the engineering part of its business which installs broadband services – over fears about competition.
Ofcom could have forced BT to comply but announced on 10 March 2017 that the telecoms giant had caved in to pressure.
Ofcom now say Openreach will become a distinct company with its own staff and management.
32,000 staff will move to the new business, called Openreach Limited. The company will have its own branding and will not feature the BT logo.
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Broadband providers like Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk have to use Openreach to install their technology and offer broadband deals to customers.
They have long complained that Openreach failed to invest significantly to provide a better service and that charges them too much, charges which they then have to pass on to customers.
Ofcom boss Sharon White said this was “a significant day for phone and broadband users”.
“The new Openreach will be built to serve all its customers equally, working truly independently and taking investment decisions on behalf of the whole industry – not just BT,” she said.
What does the industry think of the BT Openreach split?
Sky welcomed the announcement, saying: “A more independent Openreach is a step towards delivering better service to customers and the investment that the UK needs. It’s important that today’s agreement is now implemented by BT in good faith and without delay.”
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Dido Harding, chief executive of TalkTalk, said: “We hope this is the start of a new deal for Britain’s broadband customers, who will be keen to see a clear timetable from Openreach setting out when their services will improve.”
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: “Now we need to see this deal implemented, along with significant improvements to Openreach’s service standards, and increased investment by Openreach in the country’s digital infrastructure.”
Why does Openreach need to change?
The regulator had threatened to force BT to make Openreach a legally separate company.
It had concerns that BT kept control of Openreach decisions, shutting out other telecoms companies from consulting on investments that would affect their business.
Ofcom announced plans last year, as part of its Digital Communications Review, to overhaul Openreach’s governance and strengthen its independence from BT.
What will happen to Openreach now?
Ofcom doesn’t need to regulate to impose the split between BT and Openreach.
Ms White added: “Openreach reform is one part of Ofcom’s work to ensure that all providers meet the growing demands of customers.
“We are also finalising measures to ensure better value for customers who only take a landline; deliver automatic compensation for landline and broadband customers when things go wrong; and bring about faster fault repairs and installations by Openreach.”
It says the “reforms have been designed to begin this year” but has not yet given a 2017 date when that will happen.
Keep an eye on BroadbandDeals.co.uk for all the latest news.
