Telecoms watchdog Oftel yesterday ordered BT to agree a new
wholesale leased line product with other operators. Operators will
be able to buy wholesale leased lines from BT and use them to
provide a wide range of dedicated telecoms services to their
customers when the negotiations are successfully completed.
Leased lines are permanently connected communications links that
are used by business and other operators for 'always on'
telecommunications services such as voice and data traffic and
internet access.
Under a Direction published yesterday, BT has two months to
agree the terms and conditions for providing wholesale leased
lines, and a further month and a half to offer the product to the
operators.
Oftel hopes that the implementation of this Direction will
introduce greater competition in the provision of leased lines and
will increase choice and downward pressure on prices for UK
businesses. Operators will be able to gain access to BT's leased
lines network and therefore compete more effectively with BT and
each other.
If BT and the operators are unable to reach agreement, either
party can refer the dispute to Oftel to set the terms and
conditions.
