LONDON (Alliance News) - Virgin Media has given its backing to BT Group PLC in the ongoing debate surrounding calls to split the telecoms group from its Openreach network infrastructure unit, saying such a move would deter investment in broadband improvements, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Tom Mockridge, the chief executive of Virgin Media, told an industry conference that BT should be allowed to keep control of Openreach, putting itself at odds with other BT rivals Vodafone Group PLC, Sky PLC and TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC, all of which have called for a break-up.
Mockridge said the UK is "much better served having economic policy and regulation that promotes competing infrastructure networks."
Virgin Media is owned by John Malone's Liberty Global.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/11943807/Virgin-Media-backs-BT-in-row-over-Openreach.html
By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance
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