OFCOM CONFIRMS OPENREACH MUST OPEN UP INFRASTRUCTURE Under the Business Connectivity Market


UK communications regulator Ofcom has rubber- stamped its final decisions on reviews of the physical infrastructure market and connections used by business broadband networks. Tis sets out how Ofcom will regulate these


markets until April 2021, and follows the submission of a draſt of these decisions to the European Commission for consultation. No changes were made to the draſt versions, published in May. On the issue of access to Openreach’s ducts


and poles, it was confirmed that companies laying high-speed fibre cables for broadband and mobile networks will be able to get greater access to the existing infrastructure. Under rules set by Ofcom last year, Openreach is already required to let rival companies use its telegraph poles and underground ‘ducts’ to lay their own fibre networks. But this has historically only been available to those companies focusing on residential and small-business customers. Te latest decision extends it to firms serving


large businesses, as well as companies laying high-speed lines that support mobile and broadband networks.


Review, the regulator looked at ‘leased lines’ or high-speed data connections used by large organisations, which form the backbone of the UK’s mobile and broadband networks. In a statement, Ofcom said that, in areas of the country where Openreach faces limited competition from other leased-line networks, it will continue to regulate what it can charge providers to use these services, keeping prices flat. Strict requirements have also been placed on


Openreach for repairs and installations, to ensure high service standards are delivered. In many areas there are no rival networks at


Openreach’s exchanges. Even with duct and pole access, network competition is unlikely to emerge for connections from these exchanges. In such areas, Openreach will be required to provide a ‘dark fibre’ service. Introducing dark fibre in only these areas will reduce the cost for mobile and broadband operators to connect their networks, without undermining their incentives to lay new, competing fibre cables where it is economic to do so.


COLLABORATION TO OFFER FIBRE OPPORTUNITIES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, UK


historic city already, it radiates out to strategic locations, delivering high speed, high-availability network services to colleges, institutions and research bodies linked to the university. Professor Ian Leslie, chair of the board for


A joint venture – Light Blue Fibre – has been launched between the University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) to open up new opportunities for full-fibre networks to expand the county’s digital infrastructure. Te university and the council have plans


to further expand their duct and fibre assets, and this collaboration will help businesses to access infrastructure that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Te council’s available fibre assets include ducting that is already incorporated into the construction of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, and will be included in all new major road, path and cycle projects following recently approved council policy to include fibre ducting during construction to extensively expand the council’s network of infrastructure over the coming years. Te Granta Backbone Network (GBN) is


the University’s privately-owned optical fibre network. Covering a large proportion of the


Light Blue Fibre, said: ‘Te development of Light Blue Fibre will make the existing and future ducting and fibre assets of two major networks in Cambridgeshire available for community and commercial use. It will provide local businesses, government, health and the education sector with cuting-edge digital infrastructure, capable of meeting their data connectivity and communication needs for now and into the future and it gives the university more opportunities for wider connectivity.’ Noelle Godfrey, board member for CCC,


said: ‘Connectivity is a vital element of the government’s national digital strategy, which provides a foundation for economic strength, thriving communities and successful localities. Te council and University Information Services’ network team have developed a strong collaboration over a number of years of joint working, to the benefit of the local community and businesses alike, and this is the next step.’ Margot James, minster for digital and the


creative industries, said: ‘Trough our modern Industrial Strategy we’re building a nationwide full-fibre network to make the UK fit for the future. Local partnerships in Cambridgeshire are sharing resources and infrastructure in a new way to help realise this vision, bringing about a significant boost in gigabit speeds for the benefit of homes and businesses in rural areas.’


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