Promoting effective competition in the provision of telecomms services. A further contribution to the telecomms network provisioning debate

It is now more than ten years since the passing of the 1984 Telecommunications Act, and still only a small proportion of UK telecomms users have an alternative to BT´s hard-wired fixed local telecomms service. This article argues that the DTI and OFTEL have not succeeded in their duties, need to give much fuller consideration to the financial viability of potential licensing propositions, and have also failed to attack sufficiently the remaining barriers presented by BT to new entrants. It examines key clauses in the 1984 Act and concludes that some form of monopoly in the local loop would best serve the consumer and that, to avoid similar problems in the future, a comprehensively staffed telecommunications policy unit should be set up to assist the DTI and OFTEL with their duties.<>