§ Mr. Wickendenasked the Secretary of State for Industry what arrangements are being made to allow private sector suppliers of subscribers' telephone apparatus to obtain approval for their apparatus to be supplied in competition with British Telecom before it is possible for apparatus to be submitted to the new independent approval authority.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Government intend the private sector to have complete freedom to compete with BT in the supply and maintenance of all telecommunications apparatus except the first telephone on each direct exchange line, certain wiring and certain private automatic branch exchanges. Standards are being written to which all this apparatus will have to conform. Once these standards have been approved by the Secretary of State, apparatus may be submitted for independent testing and approval to the newly established British Approvals Board for Telecommunications.
364WGood progress is being made in the writing of standards, but the first are not expected to be approved until July. The Government have therefore made interim arrangements in collaboration with BT which permit the private sector to sell a limited range of apparatus in competition with BT before the first standards enter into force. These arrangements have been in three stages.
On 16 November the Government announced that some extension telephones, already approved by BT for connection to its network and in most cases supplied by BT as part of its special range of decorative telephones, were to be made available for private supply. Seven extension telephone models, made by GEC, Plessey, STC and Thorn-Ericsson were released by BT earlier this year, and the manufacturers have since then been free to supply them in competition with BT. This apparatus may now be connected legally to BT's networks. It was also announced on 16 November that applications could be made for the interim approval of extension telephones and of the kinds of discrete modem, previously supplied exclusively by BT. On 5 February it was announced that additional extension telephones had been selected to be tested prior to being approved for connection to BT's networks. A total of nine models were selected from the following suppliers:
- Advanced Consumer Electronics Ltd.
- Astral Telecom Ltd.
- Conversation Pieces
- GEC Telecommunications Ltd.
- Standard Telephones and Cables Plc.
- Storacall Telephone Answering Systems
The testing of this apparatus is nearing completion and some of it will soon be approved for connection to BT's networks.
Today I am announcing arrangements for the interim approval of a further limited range of:
- extension telephones
- callmakers/repertory diallers
- apparatus incorporating an integral modem.
Suppliers who wish to sell apparatus of these kinds direct to the public should apply to the Department of Industry. Details of how to apply are set out in a statement which has been placed in the libraries of both Houses.
Applications made under the earlier arrangements and not so far accepted for testing will be reconsidered under this new arrangement which will allow a wider range of apparatus to be approved, and will permit companies who were not ready to submit telephones for interim approval last year to do so now.