Consultation: Further consultation on leased lines market analysis and various pricing issues - Telecoms Access Review 2026-31

In March 2025, we consulted on proposals for our regulation of the fixed telecoms markets that underpin broadband, mobile and business connections, for the Telecoms Access Review 2026-31 (TAR26) period from April 2026 to March 2031. This included proposed remedies in the markets for wholesale local access (WLA), leased lines access (LLA), physical infrastructure, and inter-exchange connectivity (IEC), in which we provisionally identified BT as having significant market power (SMP).

We are consulting on a proposal to extend the buffer distance,  which we use to define the boundaries between the LLA Area 2 and LLA Area 3 markets. This reflects new evidence that PIA could have a greater potential impact on providers’ ability to build customer-specific network extensions than we had previously assumed in our modelling. In response to stakeholder comments, we are also clarifying our view on the potential impact of altnet consolidation on LLA competitive conditions in this review period.

We are also consulting on certain technical changes to our cost modelling and some charge controls. These relate to PIA , fibre cost reallocations, low bandwidth services cost-based charge controls in Area 3, and dark fibre cost modelling.

Responding to this consultation

Please submit responses using the consultation response form by 5pm, 17 December 2025.