Operators can have unescorted access to BT's exchanges in order to carry out maintenance on their equipment to provide broadband services to customers, Oftel has confirmed today.

Escorted access will only be necessary where BT requires its own contractors to be accompanied by a member of BT.

Oftel's arrangements will help ensure that operators are not subject to unnecessary costs for providing broadband services over unbundled local loops.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today:

"BT raised a number of objections against operators or their contractors having unescorted access to BT's exchanges.

"Operators were concerned that if BT had insisted on escorted access at all exchanges this would have led to a significant increase in their costs.

"Oftel has decided that approved staff working for an operator must be treated in exactly the same way as an approved contractor working for BT.

"Operators' staff will be able to have unescorted access to any BT exchange, unless escorted access is required for BT's own contractors.

"These arrangements will not jeopardise the security at BT's exchanges or of the wider telecoms network."

Note to Editors

Local loop unbundling: access to BT's exchanges by third parties has been published today and is available on Oftel's website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/broadband/llu/escac1201.htm. Copies are available to the media from Oftel's Press Office on 020 7634 8991 and to the public from the Research and Intelligence Unit on 020 7634 8761.