EU eyes sweeteners to spur fast broadband rollout

Brussels

THE European Union is leaning towards relaxing rules that force telecoms companies to open up their networks if they show willingness to co-invest with rivals in superfast broadband.

The European Commission has made fostering investment in new fibre-optic networks to meet rising demand for data services a major plank of a reform of the current set of 15-year-old telecoms laws when they are reviewed in September.