The branch systems general licence rules for simple telephone call-routing apparatus, may be relaxed as soon as February to allow domestic and small business users to connect single-line switching telephone systems without the need for pre-connection inspection or a maintenance contract from an approved body. Manufacturers of simple call-routing equipment – single exchange line PABXs with the capability to switch calls within a building – expect a resolution to the issue very soon; they believe that relaxation of the current regulations would lead to a rapid growth in penetration of systems. Such systems cost only about UKP100 to UKP200, but pre-connection inspection, and maintenance contracts, can bring the cost up another UKP100, making the actual cost of installing such systems unduly expensive. Manufacturers of such systems believe that a big market could be created if domestic and small business users were able to buy the systems without a third party being involved.The first step towards liberalisation of the domestic telecoms market came in December 1985, when users were given authorisation to wire up their own extensions to the British Telecom socket.
