Consultation: Promoting investment and competition in fibre networks – Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review 2021-26
- Start: 06 November 2020
- Status: Closed
- End: 08 December 2020
Investment in the UK’s telecoms infrastructure is needed to meet growing and future demand for ultrafast broadband. Future broadband networks should provide choice, value and quality. Ofcom’s approach to achieving that has been through encouraging competition between different networks.
This document sets out our detailed plans for regulation from April 2021 of the fixed telecoms markets that underpin broadband, mobile and business connections.
Our aim is to create the best possible conditions for companies to invest in ultrafast broadband so customers in all parts of the UK can enjoy the benefits it provides, while protecting customers as the UK transitions to new, faster fibre networks.
We will publish our decision statement before the new regulation will take effect in April 2021. This review does not cover the Hull area, which will be subject to a separate consultation.
Update 6 November 2020 – further consultation on proposed remedies
We have today published a further consultation (PDF, 494.8 KB) on some changes to our proposed remedies, which we have made following responses to our January 2020 consultation.
The closing date of this consultation is 8 December 2020. We expect to publish our final decision relating to the wholesale fixed telecoms market review by 31 March 2021.
Responding to this consultation
Please submit responses using the consultation response form (ODT, 50.0 KB).
In response to a query from Openreach, we have today published a clarification (PDF, 171.9 KB) on our proposed approach to setting prices for dark fibre services.
In response to a stakeholder's query, we have today published a follow-up clarification (PDF, 159.2 KB) to that published on 1 May 2020 in relation to our Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review consultation.
In response to a stakeholder's query, we have today published further clarifications (PDF, 146.6 KB) to our Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review consultation.
The original deadline for responses to these proposals was 1 April 2020, but with the coronavirus pandemic bringing significant challenges to the telecoms industry, we announced on 24 March that all consultation deadlines had been suspended until further notice.
Since then, we have remained in close contact with industry. Many companies have adapted to new ways of working and have a clearer picture of their capacity to contribute to this review. We are therefore confident that stakeholders should be in a position to finalise their responses shortly.
We are now accepting responses to the consultation up to 22 May 2020, including any new information which organisations that have already responded wish to provide.
In response to a stakeholder's query, we have today published a clarification on Area 2 (PDF, 200.2 KB) to our Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review consultation.
We have today published corrections and clarifications to our Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review consultation.
Main documents
Supporting documents
Supporting documents
Responses
| Responder name | Type |
|---|---|
| [Response to November consultation] BUUK (PDF File, 144.3 KB) | Organisation |
| [Response to November consultation] CityFibre (PDF File, 538.2 KB) | Organisation |
| [Response to November consultation] CityFibre (Annex 1) (MS Excel Document, 111.8 KB) | Organisation |
| [Response to November consultation] Community Fibre (PDF File, 144.2 KB) | Organisation |
| [Response to November consultation] County Broadband (PDF File, 178.9 KB) | Organisation |