Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bu.edu!telecom-request From: John.Slater@uk.sun.com (John Slater) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: UK Deregulation - Big News Message-ID: Date: 6 Mar 91 18:58:37 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 39 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 184, Message 4 of 11 Yesterday the Department of Trade and Industry published a White Paper promising to break the BT-Mercury duopoly and open up the telecommunications market for new operators. Cable television operators are expected to be among the first to enter the market for fixed-line service. Other early competitors for local service will be the two existing (and flourishing) national cellular operators, Cellnet and Vodafone. Long distance competition is likely to come from British Rail and the Post Office, both of which have extensive private networks with considerable spare capacity. Electricity distribution companies and broadcasting networks are also said to be interested. The principle of equal access was established in the paper. This will be available within two years, and will enable customers to choose a long-distance company without having to dial special access codes, as is currently the case with Mercury. "Lifetime phone numbers", issued by Oftel, the regulatory body, are expected to be available within three years. Included in the proposals were a 10% cut in BT's international call rates in June and other price reductions on domestic service, but a 14% rental increase is on the way for BT customers with more than one phone line. Private customers who make very few calls will only be charged half the standard line rental, and will be given up to two hours of free off-peak calls. The White Paper is seen as a blow for BT after several months of hard lobbying. It prohibits the company from distributing entertainment services, including television, over its network, while allowing the cable TV operators to provide phone service. Good news on the whole, I feel. John Slater Sun Microsystems UK, Gatwick Office