BellSouth has seen fewer UNE-p line losses following AT&T's decision to leave the consumer market, said Ron Dykes, Chief Financial Officer at BellSouth, speaking at Morgan Stanley's Ninth Annual Media & Communications Conference in New York. BellSouth expects that it will be able to win back many of the local voice customers that left to UNE-p competitors. UNE-p line number trends are expected to be announced in the company's next quarterly financial report.
Dykes also said the transition from circuit to packet is moving "very quickly", creating new opportunities and new competitors. BellSouth's strategy is to look for growth its broadband and wireless platforms. Dykes said the prospects of IP video is very especially interesting. More than half of BellSouth households are now served by fiber-fed, short copper loops (<5000ft). IPTV lab tests are underway and look promising, he said, and the company's next steps will be a field trial, followed by an economic validation of the business case. Meanwhile, BellSouth's DirecTV offer has been extended to all of its retail channels. http://www.bellsouth.com
- On July 22, AT&T announced an historic decision to shift its focus away from traditional consumer wireline telephony.
