Openreach CEO says government should force Virgin Media O2 to share ducts
September 9, 2024 12.23 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The chief executive of Openreach has called for continued investment in full fibre to extend the build to the “more challenging and costly” parts of the UK.

In “A blueprint for continuing success in the UK’s telecoms market”, published on the Openreach website, Clive Selley said he was confident Openreach could cover 30 million premises by the end of 2030, given the right regulatory environment. Openreach is already on track to deliver full fibre to 25 million homes by 2026.

“It is ultimately UK consumers who will benefit from this investment and increased competition, so Ofcom should reject self-interested calls from some parts of the industry to restrict how Openreach competes. Because it’s clear that would lead to higher prices, weaker competition and a dilution of choice for consumers and businesses. In fact growing competition presents the opportunity to roll back regulation in many areas.”

Selley also called on Government to allow Openreach to use ducts and polls installed by its rivals.

“Ofcom and Government should also require Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and others to open up their duct and pole networks on the same transparent terms including price as Openreach’s duct and poles product,” he said.

Selley’s comments come three years in to Ofcom’s Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR), and a series of rules that took effect on 1 April 2021, and which the regulator anticipated would be good for a full ten years from its inception.