Fourteen companies get access to BT's local loop

NEWS The UK's first unbundled local loop will go on trial early next year in Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds and London. Fourteen cable operators - rivals to BT - were yesterday given the green light by Oftel to install their DSL equipment in BT's exchanges. The first services are due to be offered to consumers by July 2001 at the latest. Initially, it will be up to BT to manage its rivals' equipment, in accordance with government commitments to introduce competition in local telecommunication services. But from September this year, BT will be allowed to start hiring-out space to rival DSL services. The fourteen cable companies are: Colt, CWC, Easynet, Eircom, Energis, Fibernet, First Telecom, Global Crossing, Kingston Communication, MCI Worldcom, NTL, Telewest, Telinco and Thus. Oftel is due to release details of licensing conditions in June, following consultation with industry.