Brussels, 09/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission wants to get rid of bottlenecks and obstacles preventing the 28 national telecommunications markets of the EU from functioning as a single market, hindering the continent's competitiveness. She also wants to encourage investment in the emergence of new commercial models as well as to consolidate users' rights in the digital economy.
The draft revision of the telecoms package, which Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is responsible for the digital strategy, will present this Wednesday 11 September, will contain a raft of legislative proposals designed to make these objectives a reality. It comes in response to the request put forward by the spring European Council, inviting the Commission “to present concrete measures to achieve this single market in information and communication technologies”, in view of the increasing impact of the digital economy on the traditional economy. “We need to do more to give digital business a European home market that is digital, dynamic and unified. Giving them - and every European - the connectivity they crave should be our common priority”, said Kroes, a few days ahead of the official presentation of the legislative package.
In its broad outlines, the measures provide for: 1) simplification of the rules by relaxing the administrative formalities required of businesses. This means that operators will be able to offer services everywhere in Europe, using a single notification procedure; 2) better coordination of the spectrum, which will allow the emergence of new commercial models and pan-European businesses, and thereby better functioning of mobile technologies; 3) standardised access products to allow businesses to access fixed networks on an equal footing in countries where they do not have their own networks, and facilitate the provision of digital wireless services throughout Europe; 4) an open internet, in other words, guaranteeing the neutrality of the net whilst maximising its innovation, competition and choice to consumers; 5) intervention in fixed calls by aligning the tariffs charged for calls abroad with those for national long-distance calls; 6) better consumer protection. For example, consumers can change operator when they travel abroad if they find a rival offer which is more attractive, demand a transparent contract from their operator and demand appropriate navigation speeds; 7) drop-in roaming charges, getting rid of the surcharges applied by telecoms operators.
The last of these points, which is the most emblematic for consumers, has been the subject in recent weeks of rumours that the Commission is abandoning its plans to get rid of roaming charges, under pressure from operators. This rumour was swiftly scotched by Kroes (see EUROPE 10910). However, the date of 2014, which had been laid down for the complete removal of roaming tariffs, has been put back to 2016 and it will no longer be a case of simply getting rid of them, but of phasing them out through competition. The Commission will ask operators to offer “packages” allowing consumers to make calls anywhere in Europe without any additional charges, and these operators will also be authorised to form alliances to achieve economies of scale. However, in 2014, the Commission is planning to get rid of roaming surcharges for incoming calls.
On the other hand, the legislative package makes no provision for the creation of a single telecoms regulator, or any proposal for call termination rates applicable at the Eurotarif. Nor will there be any change to define the role of service providers for electronic communications, or any pan-European spectrum licences. (IL/transl.fl)