Structural Separation – Where next for access?
The creation of Openreach, a separate division of BT, in the UK has accelerated the process of local loop unbundling and accelerated the growth in internet service delivery in the UK and the Openreach business has also proven to be a successful commercial entity in it’s own right.
Across the globe there is growing pressure to open up access to the existing copper local loop in order to facilitate a more rapid deployment of high speed internet services. Whilst the exact model of structural separation which will be choosen will depend on local circumstances, there is little doubt that the experience gained in deploying and operating the UK Openreach model will be of significant benefit to other countries, as they will be able to draw on the expertise gained in developing the process, system, technology and commercial solutions developed for the UK.
