5.7 Million LLU Lines in the UK

 

The latest figures reveal that the total number of local loop unbundled broadband lines currently amounts to 5.75 million in the UK. The statistics for March was released by OTA (Office of the Telecoms Adjudicator) a couple of weeks back. The statistics released by the OTA also showed the upward graph of the local loop unbundled lines figures. It is a hot fact that over the past year, it has increased by 1.46 million.

Meanwhile, the significance of the LLU, as against the proven broadband  bundles  from the big  ISPs in the UK is its allowing the providers of the broadband to offer the customers increasingly cheap broadband packages. Not only this, it also allows the broadband suppliers to provide free broadband offers as well as free line rental.

LLU is also relevant for the fact that at present, a major part of the broadband users living outside the areas covered by LLU lines are paying more for their broadband services. The reason for the high bill amounts charged on the customers is simply for the application of regional pricing by the ISPs. This in its turn, prevents the customers’ access to the best broadband deals.

Therefore, a good number of broadband experts over the country are of the opinion that the spreading of the LLU in the country is a positive sign as it allows an increased number of broadband customers to take advantage of the cheaper broadband deals.

The flip side of this, however is that there might arise some migration related issues amidst the process of switching back to the BT broadband network from an LLU provider. Some isolated cases, where both the phone line and broadband have been switched to LLU, have also witnessed customers being forced to pay around GBP 125 to get back installed to a standard line.

Pic Credit : Point Topic