Channel reacts to Telecoms Access Review 2026

Ofcom has kicked off its Telecoms Access Review 2026, a review of the regulations that will apply to the UK fixed telecoms markets from April 2026 until March 2031. Here, channel leaders share their views on the key factors Ofcom needs to consider as it seeks to ensure the right environment to promote competition, investment, improved services and greater choice for customers.

JENNY HARRISON,
DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY AND PARTNERSHIPS, PXC

The 2026-2031 period will be a different environment to that envisaged in the 2021 review, and regulation must adapt to this new reality. Ofcom will need to ask whether it’s in consumers’ interests to maintain Openreach wholesale prices substantially above its costs in areas where there is no altnet build, and no altnet build is likely. Ofcom must also develop an environment which fosters FTTP take up and high FTTP quality (rather than the previous focus on FTTP build) and ensures strong retail competition which is key for consumers. A new issue for this review is the framework for how exchange closure/exit works so that the significant cost savings for Openreach are shared with consumers and CPs.

KEVIN MCNULTY,
STRATEGY DIRECTOR, ITS TECHNOLOGY GROUP

The objective of this review must be to establish a framework that ensures the best deal for the end consumer, driven by a fair and competitive market for all players. This requires continued regulation and vigilance. Deregulation and PIA pricing strategy should be robustly explored in this review. Previous regulation established a framework that has created a more competitive fibre marketplace. The predictability it has provided enabled altnets to accrue a combined multi-billion investment to build a substantial footprint across the UK. This momentum also created a catalyst for the incumbents to invest. Mandating access to BT Openreach’s ducts and poles has also been a game-changer. 

JAMES FREDRICKSON,
CHIEF CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICER, VORBOSS

There is no need for radical change. We want the opposite. The approach that Ofcom has taken since the last market review in 2021 is working well and we welcome the continuation of the steady and predictable regulatory environment that is beneficial for those seeking investment, especially in an environment of high cost of capital and low economic growth. In its TAR statement, Ofcom is right to keep its focus on monitoring BT and Openreach’s dominance. The job of creating a truly competitive market is far from done. Despite increasing network-level competition, BT Group still holds substantial market share across consumer and business services. Any softening of regulatory controls risks deterring further investment in its competitors.

JAMIE HUGHES,
UK SALES DIRECTOR, EVOLVE IP

Investment and promoting network competition is crucial in any sector, especially one that plays a big part in the growth of the country and providers like ourselves. The market ensures there are enough operators to provide competitive services and commercials. The fibre providers that have emerged over the past five years provide consumers and businesses with options and creates opportunities for hosted voice providers like ourselves to layer additional services over the top. I see lots of progress has been made so far but there’s clearly more work ahead too. The fibre companies are mostly backed by venture capitalists, who will eventually be looking to get a return from their investment and either look to pull dividends or sell their businesses which will lead to consolidation.

GUY MILLER,
CEO, MS3

Ofcom’s regulatory stance in the last review opened the door to new levels of network competition in the UK, increasing fibre availability at a dramatic rate. This private investment has awoken the sleeping giants of Openreach and Virgin and got them to also ramp up their commitment to a fully fibre Britain. The job is not done though: With high interest rates and increased competition Ofcom must look to protect this nascent industry by encouraging altnet adoption, preventing incumbents from abusing their dominant positions and not relaxing regulations. Ofcom needs to engage with as many altnets as possible in the run-up to the TAR consultation.

MARK RIDDELL,
CHANNEL DIRECTOR, ABZORB

We hope that the updated Ofcom report will include strict regulations on levels of service, lead and installation times. The telecoms market has always been poorly regulated. With the uplift in broadband and lease line connectivity further to the PSTN and ISDN switch off, plus the new entrants to the market providing fibre, there will be an exponential increase in the demand for telecoms engineers. Unfortunately, many resellers are struggling to deliver a seamless customer experience, making it difficult for them to build strong relationships with customers. Hopefully there will be stricter regulations and SLAs introduced so the network providers and the contracted engineers are accountable to deliver short lead times and a seamless service.

GRAEME GORDON,
CEO, IFB

As a smaller B2B CP based in Scotland, I feel regulation is doing a pretty good job. The need for us, telcos and Openreach and our customers especially to have predictable, stable periods of service availability and accessibility is critical. Just as important is resisting calls for the industry to deregulate more quickly by those trying to short circuit good practice for a quick buck. We know our sector has struggled to keep up with technology. With emerging LOE, which is a fibre alternative, AI and Quantum. How do the regulators keep up? Perhaps shorter, lighter, review cycles would help. There is nothing wrong with a ‘can’t touch for a while’, ‘could touch medium term’, or ‘needs to be fixed short-term’ approach. This must be focused on customer service and letting competition and choice compete on an uneven playing field.

NEIL MUTTOCK,
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, EVOLVE

TAR marks a step forward for the industry, fostering a more competitive telecommunications landscape. The initial measures taken as part of the first publication saw Openreach grant fibre providers access to its physical infrastructure throughout the UK. This has helped create a level playing field for both established players and emerging innovators and resulted in altnet FTTP networks making up more than half of the 57 per cent FTTP coverage across the UK. However, Ofcom, Openreach, altnets and local governments must collaborate to efficiently expand full fibre coverage to the more difficult to access areas. Ofcom can then pioneer additional funding mechanisms or regulatory measures to improve access to full fibre for the 23 per cent of rural UK businesses.

FURQAN ALAMGIR,
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, CONNEXIN

The next reviews in 2026 (Hull is reviewed a few months after the rest of the UK) must sustain competition while enabling altnets to continue building high quality coverage. Currently we, and other networks, benefit from access to shared infrastructure across the rest of the UK. With our work on the government's flagship Project Gigabit programme in the east midlands, for example, we can build quickly and effectively in partnership with Openreach. The last Hull review in 2021 found that KCOM, the incumbent, had 'significant market power' but didn’t resolve the issue of infrastructure sharing, therefore altnets in Hull have been forced to build parallel infrastructure. This is changing, thanks to updates to the law and a more assertive regulator. But it is vital that infrastructure access is fully resolved in 2026.

JERRY WASTIE,
PUBLIC SECTOR SALES MANAGER, MLL TELECOM

Ofcom should consider overbuild in residential areas. We have seen examples of three separate providers laying new fibre in the same streets. Additionally, PIA has not been embraced as widely as expected and has introduced considerable bureaucracy that is likely to deter take-up. In major fibre infrastructure roll outs, detailed consideration must be given to the ongoing light-up and guaranteed support of the service over time to provide certainty to potential wholesalers and consumers. We expect major consolidation after the initial peak in investment and Ofcom should be wary of protecting wholesalers and customers through what could be a turbulent market. One noticeable limitation of full fibre roll outs from new providers is being able to offer customers highly resilient services at competitive price points.