Brussels, 30/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to further investigate whether the Polish telecoms regulator, UKE, should allow the incumbent Polish telecoms operator, Telekomunikacja Polska (TP) to give alternative operators only limited access to its future fibre-based networks so they, too, can offer high-speed internet. UKE proposes not to regulate the prices which TP will charge alternative operators to access its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network, because it wants to encourage the main operator to roll out such networks in Poland. In the Commission's view, UKE's decision could have a negative effect on competition and the future development of fibre networks. The Commission has therefore suspended UKE's plans and started a three-month investigation to determine whether corrective “non-discriminatory” measures proposed are sufficient to guarantee equivalent access to FTTH infrastructure and hence to justify the non-imposition of cost orientation access prices. Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Strategy said: “We need to avoid fibre-based broadband monopolies. This investigation will examine whether the right balance exists between investment incentives and protection of a level playing field in Poland”. (IL/transl.fl)