BT CLAIMED a victory in a key market yesterday when the European Commission backed plans to force Deutsche Telekom to open up its €3 billion (£2 billion) high-speed internet network to rivals.

The British telecom group said that it welcomed comments by Viviane Reding, the Information Society Commissioner, that Deutsche Telekom should be forced “without further delay” to open its network.

The Commission also said that the proposals should be extended to broadband products for businesses.

BT, which offers telecoms services to businesses in Germany, has previously hit out at a tendency towards “protection” of the German giant.

Sir Christopher Bland, BT’s chairman, has said that BT should be entitled globally to the kind of access it offers rivals to its network in the UK.

Yesterday, a spokesman for BT said: “We welcome this as a step in the right direction.”

The proposals will mainly boost BT’s provision of services to homeworkers and small businesses in Germany.

Under the plans, initially put forward by German regulators, Deutsche Telekom would be forced to let rivals buy high-speed internet access that would allow them to offer their own services, such as internet phone calls. It would also have to check the prices it charges with German regulators.

The plans — which the Commission said would ensure cheaper services — are the latest blow for the German group as it faces fierce competition in its domestic market. The group has installed its new VDSL broadband network in several cities, but says it should not have to open it to competitors.

Deutsche Telekom said that the EU demands were a “classic case of over-regulation”.

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