Ofcom reveals rural broadband competition is on the rise
Ofcom reveals rural broadband competition is on the rise
Media regulator Ofcom has claimed that levels of broadband provider competition across rural areas in the UK has risen over the last three years.
The Ofcom consultation and resulting research on the Wholesale Broadband Access review investigated competition across the wholesale broadband product marketplace. It found that increasing numbers of alternative service providers now have unbundled lines on BT’s network.
The level of competition in terms of providers was found to have risen by 12 per cent from 78 per cent to 90 per cent over the last three years, Ofcom found.
No regulation is currently being proposed by the regulator in the area, although it did confirm that it is planning to roll out a charge control on BT’s services across the remaining 10 per cent of the UK that still has limited service provider options.
This charge would hope to entice more broadband providers to make use of BT's wholesale network in order to offer services to rural areas.
Broadband expert at uSwitch.com, Marie-Louise Abretti, said that the increase in levels of service provider competition since 2010 is "very promising indeed".
"Until recently, those in more isolated areas have had to take what they can get. But more choice means being able to shop around to cut the cost of broadband and home phone bills or to get a better speed,” she said.
Ms Abretti went on to say that those customers living in urban areas now take the wide range of broadband options for granted, whilst those living in rural areas can still not do that.
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