BT's local network business, Openreach, has outlined its plans for sharing its ducts and poles with rival internet service providers.

In October 2010, Ofcom ruled that the telecoms giant should open up this infrastructure to the likes of Virgin Media in a bid to encourage further investment in fibre optic broadband.

Under the proposals, it will charge communications firms 95p per metre each year to rent space in its underground ducts - a price it claimed is in line with similar offers in other European countries.

The sharing of poles will be charged at £21 per attachment, with the company noting there is "limited international precedent" to compare this fee.

Chief executive of Openreach Steve Robertson said: "It's really important that consumers and businesses continue to enjoy a choice of fibre services so we will be expecting others to be as open as we are."

Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, stated its decision to open up BT's ducts and poles should help to promote investment, innovation and competition in the super-fast broadband market.

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