Oftel narrowband internet access review

The review of narrowband retail internet access, wholesale call origination and wholesale internet call termination concludes that:

• 10 million households have internet access (up from six million a year ago);
• 35% of households choose some form of unmetered internet access package; and
• consumers have some concerns about the quality of customer service they receive and the availability of information to enable them to chose the right package.

The review also finds that UK prices for dial-up internet access compare with the best in the world and that the UK is the first market in Europe to offer consumers competitive unmetered packages.

Oftel will now consult with the industry and consumer groups before reaching final decisions on whether action is needed to promote further competition in either the retail or wholesale markets.

Commenting on Oftel’s review, Anne Lambert, Oftel’s Director of operations, said today:

"With a large number of internet service providers, a wide range of unmetered and pay-as-you-go internet access products, and prices among the lowest in the world the review confirms that consumers get a good deal for internet access.

"However, some concerns have been raised about the quality of customer service and the availability of information and the review asks whether the industry should take further measures to improve these.

"Greater use of unmetered internet access has implications for the networks in how they carry the large amounts of traffic that unmetered access generates. The review asks the industry whether further regulatory measures are needed to ensure that ISPs get a good deal from their wholesale network suppliers."

Oftel’s final statement on the dial-up internet access market will be published towards the end of this year.