Ofcom and Openreach trial cheap UK FTTC upgrades
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has begun a consultation process on a proposed bulk upgrade project which would require technical changes to Openreach’s (BT) quality of service regulation.
However, Ofcom says that the changes would make it more efficient for them to upgrade slower lines to superfast FTTC-based broadband ISP connections.
ISPs reliant on Openreach’s network have reportedly been calling for a more efficient and cost-effective way to upgrade existing customers to higher-speed connections. This is seen as particularly important in light of the many discounts and offers being promoted in order to encourage stronger take-up.
The proposed solution involves a new voluntary installation process which would enable ISPs to upgrade standard customers en masse to superfast broadband products, at a given street cabinet, and cheaper price per line.
In its proposal, Ofcom said: We are proposing to agree to Openreach’s request, given that a more efficient and cost-effective upgrade process would benefit people and businesses.”
“This means orders completed using Openreach’s ‘Bulk Grouping provision capability’ would be exempt from certain quality of service regulation requirements for the remainder of the 2018-2021 review period.”
“We will monitor Openreach’s service performance, using information collected from Openreach about orders using this process. We remain open to imposing additional standards on these orders in the future if we consider it appropriate.”
If the trial goes well, the new upgrades could be introduced during the early part of next year, Ofcom said.
Later, Openreach responded to claims from Ofcom that reducing costs could require it to delay the completion of certain jobs until a sufficient volume from a given ISP at a given cabinet is reached.
Openreach said that the discount is not dependant on delaying job completion, with the same street cabinet jobs being done by one engineer. It added that it would not be delaying the completion of any jobs awaiting volume.
