UK telcos in Oftel's corner for BT fight

John Docherty, spokesman for Colt, said: "Oftel has done a good job - BT was continuing to drag its heels - but it does nothing to alleviate the problem of gaining access to the exchanges in central areas. Still, it's a positive step and vindicates what we and the other operators had been telling Oftel."

Last night Oftel set down a contracts framework for access to the local exchanges. This will be backed by an independent body set up to resolve the inevitable disputes. It set a deadline of four weeks for consultations.

Robin Duke-Woolley, analyst at telecoms research group Schema, said: "This has clearly got the game moving. Oftel had to do something, but for the rest, we'll have to wait and see."

Responding to Oftel's action, a spokeswoman for BT said: "We are very aware that time is running out and will now start getting the new contracts underway. Much of this we had anticipated or suggested ages ago - the independent survey of premises, for instance."

BT still has one small quibble over the ultimate control of exchange boxes and the spokeswoman said BT will object to telcos being able to trade or exchange space in exchanges as it would create a secondary market.

Domhnall Dods, contract officer for Scottish operator Thus, said: "I think that this has been addressed by Oftel, there is a provision for BT to have a say.

"Of the 17 points in our original complaint we think 10 have been decided in our favour, five pretty much in our favour and two referred back. My experience is that BT will still fight tooth and nail, it's in their commercial advantage to do so."

And Dodds pointed out that the next series of hurdles will include conflict over the costs of access, on which Oftel is to rule before the end of the year.

Rival telcos are also still concerned over the issue of line sharing; and the pricing for ADSL4 - the wholesale ADSL.The latter, he predicted, will be a contract battle similar to the one which Oftel has just moved to resolve. Thus has already formed a group of 20 operators to fight this next battle.