BT has called for a shake-up of Ofcom, claiming that the regulator could become too powerful after Britain leaves the EU. The telecoms giant fears that Brexit could lead to the watchdog’s role being increased as oversight by the European Commission is removed. It has suggested tackling the issue by separating operations within Ofcom to ensure “checks and balances” remain. The comments risk reigniting tensions that marred the end of Gavin Patterson’s reign as chief executive. Patterson tried to resist Ofcom’s demands that Openreach — the part of BT that runs the copper and fibre lines into homes and businesses — be run more independently. After Ofcom threatened to break up BT, the two sides agreed that Openreach would be spun off into a separate
BT has suggested the European Commission should be divided into separate operations following Brexit, to avoid the regulator having too much power once Ofcom no longer has an oversight role. The comments could lead to fresh tension between the telecom giant and the European Commission, following their past clash over the spin-off of Openreach from BT.