Openreach should be nationalised though because it owns the poles and ducts that can't be duplicated easily. It has been forced to open up to competitors, but then the only way for them to extract value is probably by taking on debt much like the water companies have done.
I just don't see how the free market helps in the maintenance of poles and ducts. That should be owned by the state.
As I understand it, Openreach charge their competitors a fee for duct and pole access, so there is some way for them to extract value from their ownership of the network. Whether that's a better detail for the taxpayer than nationalisation, I don't know. I was really just pointing out that it appears (appears!) to be a sustainable solution.
The issue of privatised companies taking on debt whilst paying dividends is a pure failure of government regulation.
I just don't see how the free market helps in the maintenance of poles and ducts. That should be owned by the state.