As BT push on with tired copper lines for super-fast broadband Vodafone challenges their sensibility and legality.

Vodafone calls out BT’s latest technology as breaching the strict conditions set out by Ofcom allowing Openreach to stay under BT’s control.

Throwing a rather large spanner in the works Vodafone is contesting BT’s plans to roll out G-Fast broadband, a technology that utilises existing copper lines, claiming it is contrary to the conditions set out by Ofcom. Following historical reviews and a prolonged period of examination, Ofcom allowed BT to keep Openreach under their domain, against the calls of the many competitors for official segregation, on the proviso that they perform certain commitments namely upgrading Britain’s broadband to “ultra-fast speeds” from a £6bn investment in the network.

BT’s solution to this commitment though has brought further wrath from Vodafone, who claim the solution falls short of what was promised. G-Fast, the technology BT are hoping to roll out, offers much faster speeds, but over the traditional copper lines, not the full fibre rollout everyone envisaged and thus has been derided by Vodafone as being merely an interim measure.

Hence, Vodafone has requested Ofcom perform a full consultation into the issue, which could impact the roll out of the G-Fast technology for months. With the Financial times reporting a Vodafone spokesman announcing “We call on Ofcom to discharge its legal duties and carry out a proper consultation into this issue.”