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MPs call for formal separation of BT, Openreach
2016-01-25 10:56:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) Despite GBP 1.7 billion of taxpayers' money being used to subsidise the construction of UK high-speed broadband, there are still 5.7 million people who cannot access the internet at the minimum 10 Mbps speed required by Ofcom, according to a new report from MPs. The 'BroadBad' report from the British Infrastructure Group (BIG) also shows that 42 percent of SMEs have problems with their internet connection, at an estimated GBP 11 billion cost to the British economy. The MPs want Ofcom to take radical action over the 'natural monopoly' held for too long by BT Openreach and for the country to stop being held by back by BT's 'lack of ambition and underinvestment'. It calls for the UK to start converting to a fully fibre network to avoid being left behind by other nations. The MPs insist that it is time for a formal separation of BT from Openreach to encourage more competition and a better service for every internet user and for the benefit of the UK economy.
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Category:Telecommunications