:.....thanks for that, most interesting, but do we believe him?
The Government has been running multiple consultations on open access, the one specifically about access to poles is here:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file52419.pdf
The consultation closed in November and many companies responded and these responses can be found on the internet. All except BT's response, that is. Nowhere can I find BT's response to this...
I believe BT will fight tooth and nail to prevent access to its poles. They are the key to all this. So, in response to:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ignitionnet
Thoughts?
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BT would love access to VM's network, being as it's the only cable tv network in the country of size. But I do not believe for one second BT are genuine about opening up theirs.
In regards to open access to VM's network, VM are a private company and despite increasing cash flow are still 6 billion in debt and shareholders have yet to see a return on their money. If VM were forced to open up their network, VM would take it to court and I believe would win. Berkett also made mention of technical reasons why open access would be difficult as VM's cables to houses are coaxial surrounded by a twisted copper pair. He said, how do you separate the cables and who gets access to what? In theory, other companies could, as an example, be allowed access to the copper pair, but where do other ISP's equipment go? In already crowded street cabinets? There are no telephone exchanges of course.
From VM's perspective, I do not believe open access to VM's network should happen. From a personal perspective, I would love as many services for as cheap as possible, so I'm all in favour of it!
Back to BT.
They're a private company like VM, why should they keep having to allow competitors access to their network? Of course, the reason is that 90% of that network was built with public money.
Either of two things need to happen:
1 - The Government will force BT to open up its poles to competitors so that they can sling fibre from them. Or, more likely, BT slings the fibre and allows access to competitors.
I think this is the most workable solution for now and is actually happening. BT are installing fibre to some poles which then feeds into their street cabinets. Then copper comes out of the cabinets and into houses all using VDSL2 technology. My area goes live in April.
The problem is, this is a short term measure. This technology will not cope with 100, 200, 1000mb speeds that new services of the future will require. There is also an inherent unfairness on BT in that it has to use its resources to facilitate competitors, ie it still has to send a bloke round to unlock the telephone exchange when Mr Orange turns up to install his equipment. So, that leaves:
2 - Openreach (which is now conveniently separated from BT to some extent) becomes state controlled.
Poles, cabinets and buildings housing telephone exchanges become state assets perhaps administered and maintained by local councils or by a public service company similar to how National Rail is run.
The State pays for the cost of slinging fibre to
all poles then allows wholesale access to all. BT is freed from its "burden" of owning and maintaining an open access network and runs services to houses on a level peg with all its competitors.
The downside is the several billion that the State has to pay for the fibre. Not easy in a recession and it's us, via taxes, that will pay for it...