LONDON (Alliance News) - Telecommunications industry companies are planning to use the UK's decision to vote to leave the European Union as a way to push media and communications regulator Ofcom to break-up BT Group PLC, The Times reported.
Ofcom, in a review published earlier this year, decided against a forced separation of BT's Openreach network infrastructure business, but left the possibility of this on the table unless BT complies with a series of demands to improve the independence and governance of Openreach.
The UK telecoms industry has long believed the need for Brussels to ratify any potential break-up of BT was a deterrent to this happening, but BT's competitors have been emboldened by the Brexit vote and will now put pressure on Ofcom to pursue a break-up of the telecoms giant.
The Times said Vodafone Group is set to meet with Ofcom next week and will press the case for a post-Brexit break-up of BT.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/business/rivals-seize-on-eu-vote-in-battle-to-break-up-bt-8wr3glkc0
By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance
Copyright 2016 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Vodafone (VOD)
BT (BT.A)
