Ref:      18/00

Date:    27 March 2000

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, today announced that the costs of providing interim carrier pre-selection will be shared equally between BT and the operators.

Carrier pre-selection automatically routes telephone calls onto different networks, allowing customers to choose which operators they would like to use, depending on which company offers them the best deal.

Until BT completes the necessary changes to its network to provide the service automatically, carrier pre-selection will be provided using auto-diallers that will be installed in customers’ premises.

The determination will take effect from 1 April when operators will be able to offer the service to customers.

David Edmonds said today:

"Carrier Pre-selection will bring new benefits to all telephone users, as they will be able to use more than one operator, depending on which companies offer the best deal on local, national and international calls.

"Until BT have finished making the necessary changes on their networks to provide carrier pre-selection automatically, consumers will need to use auto-diallers to route their calls onto different operators.

"As the operators were unable to agree an allocation of costs, Oftel has decided that the cost of providing carrier pre-selection using auto-diallers will be shared equally between BT and the other operators.

"It will be for the companies that provide the service to decide if they will pass any of this cost on to their customers.

"Oftel’s determination represents a practical way forward in response to the variety of views put to us by all sections of the industry. We have also had to make sure that our decision takes into account our obligations under the EC Directive to implement Carrier Pre-selection".

The detail of Oftel’s decision is contained in an explanatory memorandum that accompanies the Determination.

Note to Editors

‘Determination under Condition 50A.7 of the Licence of British Telecommunications plc relating to ‘Interim’ Carrier Pre-Selection’ and accompanying explanatory memorandum is available from Oftel’s website at http://www.oftel.gov.uk. Copies are also available to the media from Oftel’s Press Office on 0171 634 8991 and to the public from Oftel’s Research and Intelligence Unit on 0171 634 8761.

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