TalkTalk says fibre broadband lacks competition of copper

The UK's super-fast broadband market lacks the competition that exists between providers of copper-based connectivity, TalkTalk chief executive Dido Harding has argued.

In a panel session at the Huawei Broadband Forum, Ms Harding claimed the fibre market is not as "vibrantly competitive as copper" and insisted: "We should start to worry about that."

According to the Register, she stressed that within the next decade, a "large proportion" of consumers will be signed up to super-fast broadband services.

Consequently, Ms Harding said it is not suitable for next-generation broadband to continue as an unregulated product with a major reliance on BT's wholesale network.

BT is aiming to extend its super-fast broadband footprint to two-thirds of the UK by the end of 2014, having already passed 11 million homes and businesses.

TalkTalk and several other providers deliver fibre broadband via BT's infrastructure, but Ms Harding admitted she has "no idea" if the company is paying a suitable rate for this access.

"I think the time is now right to start looking at exactly what that regulatory framework should be to make sure that it is very clear that both parties are getting a fair price," she added.