Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) Openreach Limited and (b) other telecoms operators on improving security measures for accessing shared network infrastructure.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) regularly engages with telecoms operators to discuss a range of security and risk related issues, including the security of shared network infrastructure, and to ensure the security of telecoms network infrastructure. Officials and ministers meet regularly with individual companies (including Openreach), industry bodies and the industry-led Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group (EC-RRG).

Communication Providers have statutory obligations set out in section 105A-Z of the Communications Act 2003 to take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify, prepare for and reduce the risk of security compromise. This includes anything that compromises the availability, performance or functionality of the network or service.

Openreach has commercial contracts with broadband contractors who access its ducts and poles. The Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator (OTA) works with Openreach and Communication Providers to support mediated resolution of working-level implementation issues relating to these contracts. If there are concerns that statutory obligations are being breached, then these should be raised with Ofcom. Ofcom’s Openreach Monitoring Unit ensures that the company meets expectations in how it deals with both its customers and its competitors.