2008/06/10

Ebbsfleet Fibre to the Home Pilot | Ofcom

Ebbsfleet Fibre to the Home Pilot | Ofcom

Ebbsfleet is a new housing development in Kent, where BT are planning to implement Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) which will be part of their 21CN Next Generation Network.

Normally BT provides telephony services over copper, but here voice services will be provided over the FTTP system.

BT are regulated as they have significant market power (SMP) - apart from Hull where Kingston have SMP and they have universal service obligations (USO) and basic telephony service pricing is fixed by Ofcom.

For the Ebbsfleet trial BT wish to discount telephony services to 300 homes from August 2008 to December 2009 and have asked Ofcom to allow this.

Ofcom think that this would be a good idea as they wish to encourage FTTP roll-out and services and are therefore holding a consultation which closes on 7 July 2008.

2.6GHz spectrum award update | Ofcom

2.6GHz spectrum award update | Ofcom

Ofcom were planning to offer spectrum in 2.6GHz and 2010MHz in July (2008), but T-Mobile and O2 have legally challenged the validity of the auction (the 2.6GHz spectrum was originally reserved for 3G use).

Ofcom are trying to get the legal challenge expedited as they believe it's in the consumer's and citizen's best belief to make the spectrum available as soon as possible.

Ofcom will make a further statement when they are in a position to do so.