france telecom

France Telecom rivals given access to broadband network

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The European Commission has stated that France Telecom must provide rival operators with access to its broadband network for a year in order to provide customers in France with a greater choice of high-speed Internet services.

The measure is said to have been suggested by ARCEP, the telecomms regulator in France and was authorised with the intention of opening up competition for wholesale broadband in France, by the European Union executive. It is thought that the move will give other operators a chance for more investment in local connection services and regional broadband over the year, improve services available and increase broadband take up.

ARCEP is said to have found that the country's wholesale broadband access market was dominated by France Telecom due to the size of its market share and ability to supply broadband products at retail and wholesale level. ARCEP is to review the measure after a year and it is understood that the measure will remain until other operators have built a sufficient network and adequate customer base to enable their further investment in regional services.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com))

COPYRIGHT 2005 Ingram Investment Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group