BT, Openreach should split, says ex-business minister Anna Soubry

BT, which had been criticised for providing low levels of superfast broadband access, should split from Openreach, according to a former government minister.

Anna Soubry, the former business minister, said that the telecoms giant should split and Openreach should became a separate company.

Openreach is owned by BT and runs a large amount of the country’s internet infrastructure and is responsible for access to superfast broadband, which is more than 24 millions of bits per second.

Communications regulator, the office for communications (Ofcom) considered splitting the two up, but rejected the idea and instead said Openreach should become a distinct company within BT.

Soubry said to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was surprised by Ofcom’s decision on the 26 July.

"I was very surprised that was pulled back on, I'm sorry, but they have not delivered. Radical action needs to be taken so that we have superfast broadband across the UK," she said.

The Conservative MP for Broxtowe said BT had enough chances to improve the broadband service for customers.

"It's not good enough. It's outrageous in this day and age to not have access to superfast broadband and mobile phone signals, and that includes on our trains too.

"Not only would I have put a very sharp toe under BT and looked at its performance and actually considered splitting it up, making sure it did a proper job, and I'm far from convinced that it's done a proper job."

BT claimed that 90% of properties in the UK had access to superfast broadband internet, however Soubry disagreed.

“I don't trust these figures at all … It's strange that in my time as business minister, I seem to meet every member of the 10%".

Shares in BT group were down 1.64% to 392.25p at 1257 BST.