Oftel’s direction published today sets timeframes for BT to conclude negotiations with the two companies in relation to DSL interconnection products.

The proposed interconnection arrangements will enable Energis and Thus to take their DSL services off BT's network at specified points and onto their own networks. BT’s current wholesale DSL service is an end-to-end product which does not enable network operators to use their own network infrastructure.

BT has six weeks to negotiate interconnection with Energis and Thus and three months to negotiate a product for connection at the DSLAM level.

If negotiations on either product are not concluded, the parties can request Oftel to determine their dispute.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said:

"Consumers will benefit from operators having a range of options for providing high-speed services. The choices include BT’s wholesale products, unbundled local loops or using their own networks.

"Oftel’s order will require BT to negotiate DSL interconnection and will give operators another way to offer high-speed services to their customers."

These deadlines were initially set out in a draft determination published on 5 December 2000.

1. Direction under Condition 9.2 of the Public Telecommunications Licence granted to British Telecommunications Plc and under Regulations 6(3) and 6(4) of the Telecommunications (Interconnection) Regulations 1997 is available on Oftel’s website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/licensing/xdsl0301.htm.

2. Energis submitted a request to Oftel for a formal direction on 25 September 2000, after negotiations with BT on the commercial availability of xDSL ATM interconnection and DSLAM  interconnection failed to conclude. Thus submitted a second request on 13 October.

3. The direction allows six weeks to conclude negotiations on a product providing a point of connection to an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switch in BT’s ATM Multi-Service Platform. This product must be available two months from the end of negotiations. In addition, the direction allows three months to conclude negotiations on appropriate interconnection product at the Digital Subscriber Loop Multiplex (DSLAM) level.