Sibéal Dempsey

I am currently working in the Regulatory, Policy & Public Affairs team at CityFibre, the UK’s largest alternative provider of wholesale fibre network infrastructure. As a Senior Economist, I provide economic advice supporting CityFibre’s relations with the sector and competition regulators, Ofcom and the CMA, as well as central government. I also support CityFibre more generally by providing economic input into commercial issues. 

Prior to joining CityFibre in early 2021, I worked at Ofcom for over five years. Between these two roles I have therefore gained extensive experience in applied competition and regulatory economics, as well as practical experience working within a regulated industry. 

CityFibre, London, UK

Senior Economist, Regulatory, Policy & Public Affairs team

March 2021-Present

Selected experience:

• Economic input into CityFibre’s response to Ofcom’s 2021 Consultation (on the extent to which Openreach’s pricing arrangements known as ‘Equinox’ give rise to competition concerns), as well as to submissions put forward by CityFibre over the course of the appeal in the CAT.
• Internal advice on other types of anti-competitive behaviour Openreach could employ, in particular relating to network build, and how it might be distinguished from ‘competition on the merits’.
• Providing economic advice to shareholders on external issues, for example mergers, including assessing the potential view of the CMA on such mergers. 
• Representing CityFibre externally, including at Ofcom-convened industry working groups.

Ofcom, London, UK

Economic Advisor, Senior Associate (Economics Group)

October 2015- March 2021

Selected experience:

• Analysis to determine whether BT Openreach has significant market power in the wholesale local access, leased lines access and inter-exchange connectivity markets. 
• Providing economics input into Ofcom’s affordability work, including in relation to social tariffs as well as issues relating to debt and disconnection. 
• Analysing the BBC’s materiality assessment of Britbox and developing competition concerns regarding the relationship between the Public Service and commercial subsidiaries. 
• Analysis of ex-post abuse of dominance Competition Act cases in telecoms.

Distinction in MSc: Economic Policy, University College London (2014-15)

• 1st Class honours overall
• 1st Class honours dissertation titled “Moral hazard in the Irish medical system: A regression discontinuity approach” analysing the impact of the Irish medical card on individuals’ use of healthcare services. 

2:1 BA in Economics, Trinity College Dublin (2010-2014)