World Online has become the latest operator to lose confidence in local loop unbundling (LLU) in Britain.

Apparently, it's got the hump with BT and pulled out of the Edinburgh trial. It's also considering whether to pull out of LLU altogether - not just the trial.

According to a Reuters interview with Andy Frost, World Online UK's director of broadband, it appears the ISP is unhappy at the cost of LLU.

The problem appears to stem from who should pay for the cost of setting up an exchange. If costs are to be divided between those operators involved, what happens if - or when - an operator pulls out?

Fewer operators means an increased share of the burden for those left in.

Frost told Reuters that World Online's costs had "potentially more than doubled" after other operators pulled out.

Oh dear. It's all a bit of a mess. And once again, Oftel's handling of LLU has been called into question.

Last week Kingston Communications and Thus signalled their intention to drop LLU. ®

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