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In the UK, there are only two or three providers actually providing last mile, and the majority of the 50 mentioned simply re-brand the BT/OpenReach product. Al

In the UK, there are only two or three providers actually providing last mile, and the majority of the 50 mentioned simply re-brand the BT/OpenReach product. All you need to become and ISP is a browser and some clients. Some of the larger ones have their own backbone, to an extent, but the majority simply re-brand

philjohn 9y ago
And it works, because OpenReach are heavily regulated by the government, in light of the fact that they have a monopoly when it comes to copper last mile infrastructure (ignoring KCOM for the sake of simplification, and they're only in Hull). You do have LLU where internet companies put their own DSLAMs in an OpenReach exchange, once again, this is because of heavy regulation. That has become less common of late as more people move away from ADSL to VDSL, where once again OpenReach have a monopoly in the streetside DSLAMs. The move to Fibre though is an interesting one, as we now have several options (Depending on where you live) such as GigaClear, Hyperoptic and some business only providers. There's also rural fibre in the case of B4RN and boutique wireless providers where OpenReach has failed to install a decent service. There's also Virgin Media, who provide last mile triple play over cable, but they don't have 100% coverage. Finally, the government has given out large block grants to local authorities to help pay for rollout of "Super" and "Ultra" fast broadband to places OpenReach initially deemed financially unviable. The thing about competition, is it only works when any part of the equation that is a monopoly, or near monopoly, is regulated as a utility.
- mdekkers 9y ago
  Nice comment, thanks. GigaClear etc are new to me. I left the UK 5 years ago, but was heavily involved in the telco business. Agree with your statement (and benefits) of heavily and fairly regulated monopolies.

philjohn 9y ago

And it works, because OpenReach are heavily regulated by the government, in light of the fact that they have a monopoly when it comes to copper last mile infrastructure (ignoring KCOM for the sake of simplification, and they're only in Hull). You do have LLU where internet companies put their own DSLAMs in an OpenReach exchange, once again, this is because of heavy regulation. That has become less common of late as more people move away from ADSL to VDSL, where once again OpenReach have a monopoly in the streetside DSLAMs. The move to Fibre though is an interesting one, as we now have several options (Depending on where you live) such as GigaClear, Hyperoptic and some business only providers. There's also rural fibre in the case of B4RN and boutique wireless providers where OpenReach has failed to install a decent service. There's also Virgin Media, who provide last mile triple play over cable, but they don't have 100% coverage. Finally, the government has given out large block grants to local authorities to help pay for rollout of "Super" and "Ultra" fast broadband to places OpenReach initially deemed financially unviable. The thing about competition, is it only works when any part of the equation that is a monopoly, or near monopoly, is regulated as a utility.

mdekkers 9y ago
Nice comment, thanks. GigaClear etc are new to me. I left the UK 5 years ago, but was heavily involved in the telco business. Agree with your statement (and benefits) of heavily and fairly regulated monopolies.