UK telecoms watchdog Oftel has thrown a lifeline to phone companies trying to roll out fast internet connections by ordering British Telecom (BT) to open up its vast network to them.

The move follows a complaint from Thus and Energis - both currently struggling with collapsed share prices and a telecoms market firmly in the doldrums.

Till now operators wanting to offer ADSL connections, which allow fast data over normal phone lines, have had either to buy BT's own product wholesale or install equipment in the exchange in order to divert the traffic onto their own networks.

BT owns almost all the connections between homes and small business and the exchange itself.

Now, however, competitors will be able to combine their own networks and BT's to provide their services.

The regulator promised to ensure prices were "non-discriminatory", preventing BT from prioritising its own retail broadband offering, BTOpenworld.