Local loop unbundling refers to the opening to competition of
the part of an incumbent’s telephone network that connects
buildings to local exchanges, also known as the last mile. EdNET is
one of only five remaining companies to be part of the Oftel/BT
local loop unbundling Industry Negotiating Panel.
The six-year old ISP says it can operate in exchange areas with
a broadband subscriber base of less than 100 customers, whereas BT
needs literally thousands to justify enabling an exchange for DSL
(digital subscriber line) services.
To promote its new services, the company has launched a new
site, broadbandscotland.net. Its Managing Director, Aydin Kurt-Elli
said today:
“With BT only recently agreeing to new terms
for access to exchanges nationwide, we and other ISPs will be able
to DSL-enable exchanges with terms nearer our own business models,
rather than BT’s own agenda. Whilst most ISPs, like BT, are
interested only in population-rich areas, we at edNET continue to
demonstrate our investment and firm belief in the Scottish
marketplace with this project.”
The company expects the rollout of new DSL exchanges by summer
2002.
BT and the UK Government have faced much criticism for their
behaviour in opening the incumbent’s local loop to other operators,
a requirement of European law. However, the Government has escaped
the infringement proceedings which this week began against five
other Member States.
Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Portugal were
named by the European Commission as targets for proceedings because
of their failure to comply with a Regulation on the unbundling of
local loops.
Specifically, the incumbents of these countries did not make an
offer to competitors that allowed the competitors to pay just for
what they required, and they failed to provide a breakdown of costs
for the sub-loop so that an operator could install equipment closer
to customers’ premises than the local exchange.
See: www.broadbandscotland.net
