Oftel To Investigate BT’s Net Tariffs

Oftel has confirmed today that it has launched an investigation into the pricing of BT’s unmetered internet access packages – BT Surf Together and BT Talk and Surf Together. The packages, announced earlier this month, will be reviewed under the terms of the Competition Act 1998, which prohibits the abuse of market dominance.

BT announced revisions to a number of its packages on 2 November, to come into effect on 1 December. The director of Oftel believes the changes are being made in order to recover the costs of providing the unmetered element to its service and has ordered an investigation in order to ensure that BT is not undermining effective competition in the area.

BT was recently rapped by the ITC regarding the availability of its Surftime packages (see ITC Raps Availability Of BT SurfTime) and by other ISP’s for its continued monopoly over unmetered internet access services (see AltaVista Blames BT For Stalling On Free Internet Service).

Oftel: 020 7634 8700