Broadband rules to be slackened

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has decided that there is more than enough competition in the UK broadband market and has planned to loosen some controls.

A review of the UK has said that in 64 per cent of UK markets competition was so fierce that no one would ever be dominant.

Regulator Ofcom said it would think about scrapping regulations ater this year.

The rules were designed to prevent BT using its former monopoly prowess from getting a stranglehold on the market.

However, the Commission noted that in many parts of the UK, BT faces competition from four or more other wholesalers.

Neelie Kroes, competition commissioner at the EC said that regulation in those areas was not warranted.

More at the Beeb. µ