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OPEN LETTER TO THE FINANCIAL TIMES - RADICAL MARKET REFORM NEEDED
The following letter was published in today’s Financial Times.
SIR– Every home and business in Britain deserves fast and reliable broadband access. It is essential if Britain is to fulfill its potential to be the world’s leading digital economy. Unfortunately, today’s broadband market is letting customers, businesses and Britain down. It is time we considered radical reform.
Ofcom is currently conducting the most fundamental review of the communications market in a decade, and has identified serious problems with the ownership of the national telecoms network by BT Openreach. These include a conflict of interest in the role of BT, poor quality of customer service and difficulties in enforcing the existing regulatory regime. The result is a sub-standard experience for millions of customers and diminished opportunity for alternative providers to compete effectively.
There is an urgent need for increased competition so that alternative providers are encouraged to invest and innovate to solve the challenges ahead. These include investment to deliver broadband coverage in hard to reach areas, improved service quality and reliability, fibre products suitable for Britain’s SMEs, and new ultrafast broadband services.
We do not believe that the fundamental problems identified by Ofcom can be addressed by tinkering with the existing regulatory framework. Ofcom has done a good job of delivering competition on the old copper network, but the powers given to it are insufficient for the new superfast world.
It is therefore crucial that Ofcom moves as quickly as possible to ask the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), with its far reaching powers, to undertake a full market investigation. Only the CMA, with the support of Ofcom, can address the structural barriers to competition that will unlock the next wave of investment in communications infrastructure that the country urgently needs. We cannot afford to wait
Yours sincerely
Jeroen Hoencamp, Chief Executive, Vodafone UK
Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive, Sky
Dido Harding, Chief Executive, TalkTalk
Chris Pateman, Chief Executive, Federation of Communication Services
Malcolm Corbett, Chief Executive, Independent Networks Co-operative Association
Simon Walker, Director General, Institute of Directors
Chris Bryce, Chief Executive, Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed
About Vodafone UK
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies and provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 55 more, and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets. As of 30 June 2015, Vodafone had 449 million mobile customers and 12 million fixed broadband customers. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.com.
Vodafone UK partners with businesses of all sizes - from start-ups and small businesses to the largest corporates and the public sector. The company has worked with UK businesses for over 30 years, starting out as a mobile provider and becoming one of the UK’s leading total communications partners. It provides a range of voice and data services, secure communications infrastructure, fixed and call centre capability, unified communications and was the first mobile phone operator to offer a truly converged service for fixed and mobile.
Vodafone is currently spending around £1 billion on its network and services across the UK following a similar amount spent last year. This includes £200 million on its network in London, the introduction of its 4G service to more than 642 cities and towns, as well as thousands of smaller communities whilst also making network improvements across its UK 3G network. Meanwhile, The Vodafone Rural Open Sure Signal programme is also aiming to bring 3G coverage for the first time to 100 remote communities across the UK.
Vodafone UK
Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, Englandwww.vodafone.com
Vodafone UK Media Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 666777Vodafone Limited
Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN Registered in England No: 1471587-
Contact
Vodafone UK Media Relations
01635 666777
ukmediarelations@vodafone.com