Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/10/14/dti_backs_oftel_over_bt/

DTI backs Oftel over BT handling

Nice to know someone does

By Tim Richardson

Posted in Legal, 14th October 2000 08:43 GMT

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has given Oftel a vote of confidence over its handling of local loop unbundling.

Despite mounting criticism against the regulator and a report that a number of telcos have lodged an official complaint with the winged watchdog against BT, a spokesman at the DTI gave the regulator two thumbs up.

"We're one hundred per cent behind them," said a spokesman for the DTI.

"We support the regulator and we're confident that the timetable [for LLU] will be met," he said.

Such a ringing endorsement should come as welcomed relief for those holed up at Oftel who are having to deal with a barrage of complaints and enquiries, day after day, week after week, month after month.

Last month the FT reported that unnamed sources within the Treasury were unhappy with the pace of Britain's broadband revolution claiming Oftel had allowed BT to stifle competition.

Still, not to worry, eh? After all, no one should be the slightest bit bothered by the fact that different Government departments are completely at odds with one another. ®