§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statutory minimums of service BT is obliged to abide by in standard telephone line provision. [76159]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) requires BT to provide telephony services including the ability to make and receive national and international calls and calls employing facsimile or voice band data at a minimum of 2400bit/s at any place in the licensed area. The EC Directive on Universal Service and Users' Rights, due to be implemented in mid 2003, requires the connection to permit functional Internet access. Oftel will consult on the implementation of its provisions.