BT threatens to cut off broadband rivals over ‘lazy’ engineers

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BT has threatened to shut broadband rivals out of its network amid a crackdown on “lazy” engineers failing to fill in crucial forms.

The former telecoms monopoly has told smaller broadband providers they must improve compliance with rules that require them to provide information about when and where they plan to access BT’s ducts and poles.

BT will begin writing to companies this week to give them a three-month deadline to bring their compliance rate up to 90pc.

Following the three-month grace period, broadband firms that fall short of this threshold will be asked to hand over formal improvement plans.

If they are still non-compliant at the end of the year, they could then be blocked from accessing BT’s network in certain areas.

Dozens of challenger broadband firms, known as “alt-nets”, are racing to roll out their full-fibre networks across the UK.

Openreach, BT’s networks division, has deals in place with many of these companies, allowing them to access its ducts and poles to help with their own construction work.

Expansion delays

Alt-nets could therefore face significant delays to their expansion plans if they are shut out of BT’s network.

An industry source said: “Networks have tight expansion targets and cannot afford to have their build suspended. Even just one month on the naughty step could jeopardise an alt-net’s future.

“This enforcement by Openreach has been coming for some time – and those behind the billions in private money invested in the industry will suddenly be very interested in the compliance of their assets.”

BT’s crackdown comes after The Telegraph first revealed that non-compliance with the rules, dubbed “whereabouts”, was leaving critical institutions more exposed to sabotage.

In one incident last year, a hospital and financial institution in central London were taken offline after someone gained access to the network and cut through a cable.

One industry insider said: “Whilst the acceleration of fibre roll-out is welcome, it shouldn’t come at the cost of lazy contractors undermining the security of our critical infrastructure.”

Contractual breach

Openreach said it would start instigating a contractual breach for providers working in the network with no “whereabouts” information from February.

But its latest figures show compliance rates are still low, with the industry average standing at just 63pc. Compliance by some firms is as low as 20pc.

While Openreach has vowed to crack down on poor practices by engineers, the company must avoid any penalty deemed to be excessive amid concerns it could be accused of anti-competitive behaviour.

It is understood that the business does not want to pursue stricter options unless absolutely necessary.

Katie Milligan, the chief commercial officer at Openreach, said: “We’re continuing to work closely with the industry, the OTA [Office of the Telecoms Adjudicator] and Ofcom to make sure that any work happening on our network is recorded properly, and completed safely and securely.”

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