Ofcom warns BT change is ahead over internet provision

Critics of BT say it has not invested enough in Openreach and want it sold.

Ofcom's chief executive, Sharon White, is currently reviewing the company's provision of superfast broadband.

She said one option was "the structural separation" of Openreach from BT.

Ms White explained this was among four possible options being explored. They are:

• Whether to maintain the status quo which she said was "unlikely."

• More deregulation.

• The "structural separation" of Openreach and BT - in particular whether Openreach could be spun out more fully from BT.

• Adjusting the existing system to make it "more fit for purpose". That could include improving services, repairs, and laying new superfast lines.

BT is responsible for connecting almost all households to the network regardless of their service provider, as well as improvements to and maintenance of the network.

Ms White said the UK was doing fairly well in rolling out superfast broadband compared with other major European economies which suggests a split is not a foregone conclusion.

But she said it was unacceptable that 2.5 million homes did not have access to minimal broadband speeds of 10 megabits per second.

The UK government has promised that internet providers will be legally obliged to provide this speed to everyone who wants it by 2020.

Ofcom completed the first phase of its digital communications review in the summer and is expected to report its recommendations next year.