British ISPs can expect to source wholesale broadband services from a telco other than BT following a ruling today by the telecoms regulator, Oftel.

However, when this will be come reality is anyone's guess.

The proposed interconnection arrangements announced by Oftel today mean that Energis and Thus will be able to take their DSL services off BT's network at specified points and onto their own networks.

BT's current wholesale DSL service is an end-to-end product which does not enable operators to use their own network infrastructure.

The only other way rival operators can offer wholesale services is via local loop unbundling and that appears to be dying on its feet.

Both operators complained last year. Now, BT has six weeks to negotiate with the operators or face further interference from Oftel. ®