According to the proposals, customers switching to alternative service providers will deal only with their new providers, receiving one bill and dealing directly with the them to resolve any queries or complaints. Also, calls to operator services such as 151 will be connected directly to the service providers rather than having to go through BT.
Finally, BT will be required to provide an agreed level of technical support, so that customers of alternative providers get the same level of service as BT customers.
David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said the move would give new providers more freedom to compete on price and customer services. He added that UK consumers are already switching to alternative service providers, with around 2.5 million homes using indirect access services to switch their calls onto cheaper networks.
Oftel is inviting public comments on the proposals and has published the Wholesale Line Rental consultation document which is available at:
www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/whole_line/2002/wlr1102.htm