Viewpoint Article
by Jarlath Finnegan is Group CEO of AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN)
As the industry approached the launch of One Touch Switch (OTS) on 12 September, there was an increasing amount of commentary on its perceived faults and features. Regardless of which side of that debate we stand, at APFN, we see OTS as an inflection point which should give pause for thought to all of us involved in the industry.
Over the past ten years, our backers have poured billions of pounds of private sector capital into brand new full fibre infrastructure, which is already benefiting millions of customers. Much delayed and under-publicised, it is a common hope across the industry, government, and the regulator that OTS will encourage more consumers to engage more deeply with the telecoms market.
But we already know that OTS is not an industry cure-all. None of us should be under the impression that customer take-up of full fibre broadband will rocket from mid-September onwards. To make a more competitive marketplace a reality, we need the government and the regulators to step in.
At the stroke of a pen, and without spending any money, they could do a lot to help. Ofcom’s new guidance on the use of the word ‘fibre’ in marketing comes into effect four days after the new OTS process goes live. Using the word ‘fibre’ without qualification will now be banned by Ofcom, and according to them, consumers should also be informed about the technology used to deliver their broadband. But the Advertising Standards Authority has declined to follow suit. So providers will be able to market their networks in one way on their websites, and an entirely different way on an advertising billboard. In no other industry would this be tolerable and the government and Ofcom needs to pressure the ASA to change its guidance immediately, as has happened in France and Ireland.
Secondly, the government has failed to meaningfully support the industry to communicate the benefits of fibre. Successive administrations have overseen a remarkable success story in terms of the rollout. The availability of full fibre connections grew to over 60% in January 2024 according to Ofcom compared to 7% in January 2019. But we need consumers to switch and take advantage of this new technology. If consumers voluntarily move on to faster, more reliable connections, that benefits everyone: they get a better service; productivity increases; and the government can further digitise public services. The government should run a public information campaign to ‘make the switch’, just like it did for the digital tv and radio switchover. For those that need it, the government should also prioritise digital skills training, particularly for those adults who missed out when they were in school. We cannot unlock the full potential of the UK without it.
Finally, we are approaching another inflection point when the copper networks are switched off and consumers are moved to full fibre networks by their ISPs. Like OTS, this has not received the publicity and scrutiny that it deserves. This is important for Openreach, as well as those that use their networks. There is no point in Openreach, the industry and consumers paying for the costs of running two networks, a 20th century part-copper network based on old landline technology and a modern fibre optic one. At the point of switch off, it is vital that consumers can make an informed choice of network, rather than having their contracts automatically rolled over to a full fibre one by their existing ISP. The government and the regulator should intervene on this now so that the rules are clear before the switch off takes place and we can inject much needed competition into the broadband market. Copper switch-off is a once in a generation opportunity to do it.
Broadband isn’t generally argued about much in the chambers of Westminster because, for the most part, everyone agrees: it’s a fairly-priced daily essential that facilitates our lives. But there needs to be a healthy broadband market for that situation to continue, and for that, we need the government to get more involved.
One Touch Switch is being introduced on Thursday 12 September! Get the latest reactions from the UK telecoms industry live at Connected Britain
Jarlath Finnegan is Group CEO of AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN), which was created from the merger of Giganet, Swish Fibre, Jurassic Fibre and the existing AllPoints Fibre brands. Cuckoo Fibre is also part of the same group. His background is in telecoms and renewable energy infrastructure.
