EC approves French fibre access plan

The European Commission has given the green light to French telecom regulator ARCEP’s plans for the ‘mutualisation’ of access to in-building fibre to encourage the deployment of fibre-to-the-home networks.

ARCEP plans to oblige all operators rolling out fibre into consumers’ homes to provide access to alternative operators, allowing users to choose between access providers. The regulator will also oblige in-building operators to roll out additional lines within a building in densely populated areas if another operator requests it on condition that the requesting operator is willing to co-invest.

The Commission has asked ARCEP to monitor the competitive situation and put additional measures in place (such as unbundling of the local fibre loop) if its current proposals do not stimulate competition sufficiently.