Boost for BT superfast broadband plan
BT’s proposed £1.5bn-plus ($2.8bn) investment in a superfast broadband network appeared closer to becoming reality on Tuesday after regulators set out plans to remove many price controls on internet access.
The UK’s leading fixed-line phone company said in July it would spend the money on high-speed fibre optic infrastructure only if regulators allowed it to secure an appropriate rate of return.
Ofcom, the media and telecoms watchdog, on Tuesday said BT would to a large degree be able to determine its own rate of investment return. Ofcom is considering the case for not imposing price controls on certain fibre wholesale products that BT sells to rivals so that they can in turn supply broadband services to consumers.
