BT says fibre broadband market is 'level playing field'

BT has insisted there is a "level playing field" in the UK's fibre optic broadband market.

Liv Garfield, chief executive of the telecoms giant's local access network business Openreach, revealed that more than 60 rival communications providers are already using BT's super-fast broadband network to offer their own services, meaning customers have "plenty of choice".

She remarked: "There is a level playing field and what could be fairer than that?"

Her comments come in the wake of criticism from TalkTalk chief executive Dido Harding, who argued that wholesale access to BT's fibre optic broadband network must be regulated in order to boost competition and demand.

Speaking to Dow Jones, Ms Harding called on Ofcom to control the rates that BT charges its rivals for use of the network, claiming that lower prices could help to increase levels of super-fast broadband uptake in the UK.

Commenting on the differences between the copper and fibre-based broadband markets, she added: "There aren't the same number of providers competing [in fibre]."