The company, which provides telecoms services in 30 countries, is aiming to offer broadband services throughout Europe but has taken the decision to withdraw from the first round of bidding in the “unbundling” of BT’s local loop. Oftel ordered that BT open competition to the connections between local telephone exchanges and individuals’ homes and businesses by July 2001. Some telecom companies have said that Oftel has not done enough to ensure that BT does not delay the unbundling process to protect its local monopoly, the last monopoly of BT to be opened to competition.
According to reports on BBC business news, RSL said BT was being given an advantage in the prime residential and business markets because other service providers could apply for space only in the least populated exchanges, often in rural and less prosperous areas.