BT told to improve business broadband terms

The telecoms regulator Oftel yesterday ordered BT to improve the terms it offers other operators selling broadband internet access on its lines to business customers.

But the move, designed to promote competition and lower prices in the provision of "always-on", high-speed internet access to businesses, fell short of the demands of several telecoms groups who are still waiting for a key decision on price.

Oftel told BT to make "a number of improvements", mainly technical adjustments, to its wholesale leased line products but delayed taking a decision on pricing until October. David Edmonds, the director-general of Oftel, said the second phase of his investigation would resolve the issues of pricing and service level agreements. Oftel plans to publish a consultation document by August.

The decision infuriated other telecoms companies who had asked the regulator to "fast track" the key element of their complaints on pricing. Bill Allan, the chief executive of Thus, said: "Despite minor elements of the complaint now being resolved in favour of Thus and the other alternative carriers, it is disappointing that Oftel's 'fast track' procedures have been unable to resolve the primary issues in the 10 months since the original submission."