Brussels, 14/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The operators have been giving their reactions to the latest revision of European telecommunications rules, announced by the European Commission on Thursday 9 October. The Commission decided no longer to regulate the retail market for access to the fixed telephony and the wholesale market for fixed call origination, and to redefine two broadband markets (see EUROPE 11173).
ETNO, which represents the interests of the incumbent operators, has welcomed the cut in the number of regulated markets - from seven at the previous revision in 2007 to four in 2014 - which it sees as an “important signal” but it urges more ambitious reforms of the incoming Juncker Commission. “EU citizens and businesses demand superfast networks: moving away from unnecessary regulation is a fundamental first step if we are to unlock the massive investments needed”, said ETNO Chairman Luigi Gambardella. The organisation is critical, however, of the redefinition of some wholesale broadband markets, which will extend current rules to commercial services. These markets are “fiercely competitive in the EU and should not be distorted by additional regulation”, according to ETNO.
Cable Europe, which brings together cabled operators, also believes that this revision “is without a doubt a move in the right direction”. “With the revision comes the acknowledgement that sectors such as cable, which operate in a highly competitive environment and are fully captured by the relevant regulatory frameworks, must not be stifled by prescriptive market regulation if they are to continue to invest and innovate. We welcome this positive move,” stated Executive Chairman Matthias Kurth.
ECTA, representing alternative operators, takes the view that deregulating the two above-mentioned markets is “premature” when only three member states have found their markets to be sufficiently competitive. It is pleased to see, however, that physical access remains the rule and is complemented by virtual access in circumstances where physical access is not feasible and only under specific conditions. (IL)