Ofcom has published a consultation paper (PDF) updating the thinking behind its policy approach to next-generation access (NGA), and inviting contributions to the debate.

The consultation document is the latest in a series of recommendations, reports and "think pieces" on how residential optical fibre networks will be deployed in the UK.

Examples of "think pieces" include the government-initiated Caio report on UK NGA deployments, and the European Commission's recent report on NGA.

Ofcom said that the consultation will focus on "how we can encourage investment and promote competition in these new networks".

The regulator has sided with the Caio review conclusions, saying that the private sector should play a "principal role in investing to deliver very high speed broadband".

Ofcom believes that there is "a period of uncertainty on the demand, usage and reach of NGA networks" and that it is "best for the public sector to adopt a partnership approach with the private sector to delivering very high speed broadband services".

One recommendation essential to the process is the ability for residential customers to change service provider much more easily than is possible now.

"This will require good quality migration processes for consumers moving to NGA networks, back from them, or between different operators' networks," said Ofcom.

The consultation will close at 5pm on 2 December.