BT Openreach says rivals must open up fibre infrastructure

BT Openreach has said internet service providers (ISPs) that make use of its ducts and poles to offer fibre optic broadband will be required to return the favour.

The telecoms giant's local network business stated it will be seeking for rivals looking to use these facilities to offer other operators the chance to use their own infrastructure.

Prospective subscribers will expect to be able to choose from a range of fibre optic cable broadband packages, the company claimed, making it important for ISPs to make their ducts and poles available on a "wholesale, commercial basis".

"We believe such an approach will help achieve the goal of extending the availability of fibre broadband services across the UK, to the benefit of businesses and consumers," it explained.

Ofcom, which ruled that the organisation must open up its infrastructure to rivals, said the measure will help other ISPs to deploy super-fast broadband in areas BT is not planning to cover.