Belgacom fights open access

Belgacom, the incumbent wireline operator in Belgium, is disputing a regulatory ruling calling for the carrier to open access to its broadband VDSL network to competitors. The telco says regulators failed to notice markets where other players are the dominating carrier, and also says it took the business risk to invest in its network and that other carriers who didn't take that risk shouldn't be allowed access to the facilities--a quaint, but valid argument. The tide is definitely shifting worldwide toward structural separation and open access.

In Italy, for example, regulators are close to concluding a review that may force Telecom Italia's structural separation. Can any telco be successful in fighting the trend?

For more:
- check out this article about Belgacom from TeleGeography
- read this piece about Telecom Italia in The International Herald Tribune