[Ignitionnet]

It should be noted that this refers to access to VM ducting, not to forcing VM to offer a wholesale product using the network itself, though the BT model isn't typical in this regard as the entire point of BT being forced to wholesale was to ensure other operators could take lumps out of their market share.

Of course it would be better for VM to keep things as they are as it reduces the investment they need to make to stay competitive and allows them to be relatively inefficient and/or keep a higher profit margin than they would with a fully competitive market however it increasingly looks as though there won't be any choice in the matter for them sooner or later.

VM won't get to charge whomever a fortune for access to their ducting to prevent competition, rates would be regulated to ensure this doesn't happen.

Your comment regarding what BT's rivals want and don't is not correct. These operators most certainly want access to Virgin's ducts, Sky have commented on it in the past. There will be areas covered by telegraph poles by BT but which will have VM ducting present. There will also be BT ducting that is full up while there may be capacity within the VM ducts.

It will also be a pain in the backside to VM and require some additional work on their part to administrate. Another bonus from the competition's point of view.

I am unsure of the relevance of this alleged exodus from BT to VM National, especially given that VM National had been losing broadband customers for 6 of the previous 7 quarters prior to some recovery in the most recent one, or BT to other operators to the issue at hand.