Oftel confirmed yesterday that BT will be required to offer
backhaul services for local loop unbundling at cost-oriented
prices. A local loop unbundling operator (LLUO) uses backhaul to
carry network traffic from its equipment in BT’s exchanges, to a
point where it can be delivered onto the LLUO’s own network.
Oftel has also ordered BT to reduce the prices that it charges
LLUOs for external tie circuits (the cable that runs between an
LLUO’s equipment and a BT exchange, where they are not in the same
building). A list of indicative prices which BT must charge for
these circuits has been published by Oftel.
Chris Kenny, Oftel’s Director of Compliance, said:
“Operators that provide services over
unbundled local loops usually use BT’s network to carry traffic
from their equipment in BT’s exchanges onto their own networks. In
order for operators to be able to compete with BT to provide
broadband services, Oftel has ordered BT to carry other operators’
traffic across its network at cost-oriented prices.”
