Operators awaiting verdict on BT exchange unbundling

Telecom operators will hear this week which additional BT exchanges they can use to offer high-speed internet access to businesses and consumers.

The results of a ballot conducted by the Electoral Reform Society will be handed to Oftel today. Telcos were asked to list the exchanges they most want access to in the second round of opening the local loop for ADSL services. Fewer companies responded to the ballot than the 31 of the first round. Some 300 exchanges have already been opened to rival operators as BT rolls out its own ADSL services. More than 14,000 lines are now connected by BT, which has already prepared for access to 45 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK in 839 exchanges. BT expects to connect 80,000 lines by March 2001. Rival operators can use racks inside BT exchanges where available, otherwise they will have to arrange their own facilities and connection to the exchange. Negotiations are still ongoing between the telcos and BT for the price of racking. Oftel is due to announce connection charges and prices for use of the local loop before Christmas. Some 31 companies applied for access in the first round in the autumn, though some, such as Telewest and ntl, have now dropped out. BT has been ordered to relinquish its monopoly of the local loop by 1 July 2001. By Geoffrey Davies