BT Group agrees to separate broadband unit

Created by BT in 2005, Openreach maintains tens of millions of copper and fibre lines connecting telephone exchanges to homes and businesses across the UK.

However rivals, including Sky and Vodafone, argued that the existing set-up gave BT a competitive advantage - and the UK telecoms watchdog Ofcom agreed, forcing BT into the changes announced on late last week.

32,000 employees to be transferred

As a result, about 32,000 employees will transfer to the new Openreach Limited in "one of the largest such transfers in UK corporate history", BT said in a statement.

According to the statement, "BT and Ofcom have reached agreement on a long-term regulatory settlement that will see Openreach become a distinct, legally separate company with its own board, within the BT Group. The agreement is based upon voluntary commitments submitted by BT that the regulator has said meet its competition concerns."

Ofcom chief executive Sharon White said: "The new Openreach will be built to serve all its customers equally, working truly independently and taking investment decisions on behalf of the whole industry - not just BT."

BT shares up

Investors welcomed the announcement, with BT shares up 4.5% at 344.90 pence in early trading, topping London's benchmark FTSE 100 index, which was up almost half a percent overall.

"BT's rivals such as Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone, which use Openreach's network to offer broadband to consumers, have long complained of high charges, poor service and failure to invest in the division," noted Ian Forrest, investment research analyst at The Share Centre.

Source: AFP