OFTEL yesterday set the date by which BT must begin to allow other operators access to its exchanges. Subject to consultation, OFTEL proposes that the ‘local loop’ condition in BT's licence comes into effect on 8 August 2000. Other operators will be able to place Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology in the local BT, enabling them to provide high speed information services to customers. OFTEL says work must be completed in time to ensure that operators can launch their services by July 2001.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said:

"Considerable progress has been made by the industry to resolve the various operational and technical issues associated with local loop unbundling. The next stage will be to get on with the practical work of co-locating equipment and the provision of unbundled local loops.

"We have now reached the stage where the new condition in BT's licence needs to be brought into force. The new condition provides the necessary legal framework so that if any problems occur, OFTEL can intervene swiftly so that the timetable for local loop unbundling remains on course."

Richard Byatt