Guess who's to blame for DSL hell? (And it's not BT)

NEWS Duncan Lewis, CEO elect of GTS, will argue to press and industry this week that the high price of leased lines makes European companies uncompetitive compared to US rivals and that the inactivity of national governments is to blame. Drawing on research from the Yankee Group, Lewis says the majority of a business expenditure on internet connectivity pays for the 'last mile', between the long distance carrier and a company's premises. GTS believes delays in the deployment of alternative broadband technology such as DSL and wireless local loop means companies will rely on expensive leased line connections for high-speed access to the net for the foreseeable future. These leased lines are expensive because they are only available from the formerly nationalised telecom companies, such as BT. Lewis claims the priority for prime ministers and government regulators, such as the UK's Oftel, should be to take direct action against the price of leased lines and the opening up of the leased line business to competitors. By Andy Favell