Ref: 49/01
Date: 11 July 2001

Working for consumers remained at the heart of Oftel’s work in 2000 according to Oftel’s Annual Report, published today.

Promoting access to the Internet was an important focus of Oftel’s work in a year when around 2.75 million more homes were connected up to the Internet.

Oftel’s requirement on BT to offer wholesale, unmetered Internet access to other operators made a major contribution to the development of unmetered Internet access in the UK.

Other important achievements over the year included:

• Implementing a strategy of ‘competition plus’, ensuring regulation appropriate to the level of competition in a particular market;

• Starting a series of effective competition reviews to ensure that appropriate regulation is in place;

• Renewing BT’s retail price controls for a further year to protect consumers while competition continues to develop;

• Working with the Government towards the development of a new regulatory framework for electronic communications, including taking forward proposals for a single regulator - OFCOM.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today:

"Major change remained the dominant theme for the telecoms sector, and for Oftel in 2000.

"Oftel addressed the challenges of a fast changing market through a strategy of ‘competition plus’ - meeting the needs of consumers through proportionate regulation.

"This means withdrawing from regulation where it is no longer necessary, but taking decisive action where competition is not yet delivering the best deal for the consumer.

"By requiring BT to provide wholesale unmetered Internet access to other operators, Oftel played an important part in opening up Internet access in the UK.

"At the beginning of 2000 there was no unmetered Internet access in the UK - by the end of the year around 2.3 million households were using some form of dial-up unmetered Internet access package.

"Oftel’s work also focused on helping to create a new framework of regulation for the future. Oftel contributed to work at both national and European level to create a consistent regulatory framework to reflect the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting.

"Oftel continues to work to take forward these plans in 2001."

Notes to Editors:

1. Oftel’s 2000 Annual Report is published by The Stationery Office Limited, House of Commons printing number HC79 and can be purchased for £17. Limited copies are available for journalists and can obtained by contacting the Oftel Press Office on 020 7634 8991.

2. The Director General of Telecommunications is required under Section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 to provide a report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for the period 1 January to 31 December each year.