To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to assess Ofcom's performance against its strategic objective of delivering fair and effective competition between existing network operators and new entrants; and when her Department plans to publish its assessment of that measure.
Answered on
14 March 2022
Ofcom set out last year its Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (‘WFTMR’) which establishes the frameworks it considers necessary to meet its duties under the Communications Act 2003, including the Statement of Strategic Priorities, to promote competition and investment in gigabit-capable networks.
The measures established under this WFTMR are now monitored through Ofcom’s Openreach Monitoring Unit.
Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom - rather than the government - is responsible for publishing a report of what it has done in consequence of the Statement every twelve months. The most recent report from Ofcom is on Ofcom’s website.
However, the fixed telecoms network market is as competitive as it has ever been and there are currently more than 80 providers building gigabit-capable networks across all parts of the UK.