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Wholesale line rental (WLR) is a product that BT is obliged to provide to other communications providers. It enables other communications providers to offer both line rental and calls to end-users over BT's local network.

Ofcom's Annual Plan, April 2004 - March 2005, identifies WLR as a key operating priority under the objective to promote competition. The annual plan states that Ofcom will promote "competition in all communications markets, via wholesale line rental", amongst other things.

In order to implement WLR Oftel established three working groups. These have been retained by Ofcom.

• WLR Service Providers Forum
  This is the primary means for industry stakeholders to be involved in the implementation, and is open to all communications providers. It meets approximately every six weeks, and the main function of this group is to provide visibility of process on the implementation programme. The SPF is chaired by Ofcom.
• WLR Process Working Group
  This is responsible for the further detailed work on product specification, process design and associated assessment criteria that is required as part of the implementation programme. The Process Working Group is chaired by Ofcom.
• CPS/WLR Consumer Issues Task Group
  The comprises representatives from consumer groups and industry to consider the implications for consumers arising from CPS and WLR, and develop measures aimed at the prevention of deceptive and/or misleading sales and marketing practices.
• Industry documents
• Background papers
• CPS groups and papers
  The CPS Commercial Group has been subsumed into the SPF and therefore is no longer operational.

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