New Ofcom rules to support companies investing in 5G

Communications regulator Ofcom has laid out further rules around fibre networks to support competition and investment certainty for businesses ahead of the launch of 5G.

The UK’s main broadband network Openreach is already required to allow rival companies that have residential and small-business customers to use its telegraph poles and underground ‘ducts’ to set up their own fibre networks.

The new rules will extend this to include firms serving large businesses, as well as companies laying high-speed lines that support mobile and broadband networks, ahead of the 5G rollout starting this summer.

In addition, in communities where there is limited or no competition for fibre services, Openreach will have strict requirements imposed on them for repairs and installations charges, and be required to give competitors physical access to its fibre cables at a price that reflects its costs.

Jonathan Oxley, Ofcom’s competition group director, commented: “The amount of internet data used by people in the UK is expanding by around half every year. So, we’ll need faster, more reliable connections for our homes, offices and mobile networks.

“Our measures are designed to support the UK’s digital future by providing investment certainty for continued competitive investment in fibre and 5G networks across the country.”