BT Accepts Oftel Proposals to Freeze Customer Bills

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THE TELECOMS giant BT yesterday accepted a package of proposals put forward by the telecoms regulator Oftel that will let rival companies offer identical services to consumers and will ensure the bills of its lowest-spending customers will not rise.

While the company said it did not like "every individual element" of the proposed package of measures, it said that, overall, "it balanced the needs of both BT's customers and shareholders".

Last month, Oftel ordered BT to offer a new wholesale line rental product to rivals on the same terms that it provides the product to its own consumer business, BT Retail.

The move means consumers will be able, for the …