Oftel sets out co-location rates

Oftel has published proposed charges BT can make to other operators to set up and run permanent carrier pre-selection services (CPS).

The regulator has been forced to step in because operators were unable to agree terms between themselves and BT. Consultations must be finished by 21 December, after which Oftel will publish a final price tariff. Carrier pre-selection allows phone users to select a carrier other than BT from their home phone, without dialling a four digit code before each call. CPS can be overridden so users can select different carriers for different types of call, such as national and international. Operators wishing to use CPS will be required to pay a start up fee of £22,730 and an annual charge of £16,796. Set up charges per customer will vary between £10 and £16. A spokesman for BT said they would look at the statement from Oftel and then respond. By Geoffrey Davies