BT Welcomes Ofcom Survey
BT has welcomed the first annual Ofcom survey conducted among key BT Wholesale customers on BT's progress in implementing the BT Undertakings and how industry relationships are changing. BT recognises that we are still in the formative stages of implementing what is a massive and radical change for BT and everyone in the industry. The survey findings suggest that Communications Providers acknowledge BT's achievements to date, but recognise that these are early days too, and are looking for further improvement. The survey gives a foundation against which future improvement can be measured.
Since the BT Undertakings were agreed late in 2005, BT has created Openreach, effectively a new 30,000 person business. Almost 100,000 BT people have been trained on what the new regime means for each of them and for their work. And BT has already delivered against a number of key Undertakings and milestones. The Undertakings require significant investment and commitment across BT.
Commenting, Peter McCarthy-Ward, BT Group's Director of Equivalence, said: "We’re working very hard to deliver all the Undertakings, in word and in spirit, and to improve service and build industry confidence. We are delighted that industry and the regulator have recognised the major achievements we have made in a very short time and the progress we've made so far."
The survey was conducted in late March and early April this year, since when further progress has been made. The detailed information on 21CN we shared three weeks ago was well received by our customers. Openreach have now appointed 80% of their account managers, and have significantly improved service levels (though still not to where we want to be) and massively reduced the backhaul backlog.
The survey collated the views of over 30 key customers across all sectors, including the fixed line and mobile sectors, as well as people from across BT.