Oftel is bringing forward the deadline for access to the most
popular BT exchanges by three months following a lack of enthusiasm
shown by other operators in placing orders for space in BT’s
exchanges. Oftel hopes this will accelerate unbundling of the
so-called local loop across the UK which it sees as the key to
widespread use of broadband internet access.
Last week, the first 25 sites – out of over 650 now being
processed – reached the stage when operators could place firm
orders for co-location. Orders were placed at 14 of these 25 sites
with an average of 1 or 2 operators per site. The target for BT’s
unbundling in its most popular exchanges has been brought forward
from July to April this year.
Oftel attributed the low demand to some of the operators who
placed initial orders for space in September and had since stated
they were not pursuing local loop unbundling at present and so did
not place orders. It said that other operators want to wait until
their top priority sites become available, while others were
concerned about co-location costs.
