YouSee forced to open cablenet to competitors

TDC has been told it must open the YouSee cable network to third parties. Denmark’s National IT and Telecom Agency (IT og Telestyrelsen) says TDC’s control over both the copper network and YouSee’s cable TV network has created a unique circumstance in the broadband market.

The regulator says TDC has an economic incentive to only upgrade the unregulated infrastructure, its cable network, to the detriment of competitors. Because the cablenet can offer capacity greater than that found on the copper network, competitors cannot compete with the same services.

Rivals will now be able to gain access to the network to offer competing services. TDC is not prepared to cover the cost of running a wholesale network – as has been required by the Open Cable plans put forward by the Dutch regulator OPTA – instead the obligation will only come into effect when there has been a specific request for access and clarity over the price has emerged.