Brussels, 22/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - Pro-competitive competition and solid regulation are necessary for stimulating the investment crucial for developing the networks by 2020 and attaining the broadband objectives that have been set out.
These conclusions were made in a study the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) published in a debate organised on Tuesday 22 September by Michal Boni MEP (EPP, Poland) at the European Parliament. The study focuses on the digital single market and the future telecoms regulatory framework.
Boni emphasised “We should consider what kind of framework for the digital development, also for incentivising investments is needed, regulatory and non- regulatory framework. We need the strong political will for building the Digital Union, and at the same time we need stronger cooperation among the European stakeholders to tackle digital challenges”.
The study carried out by Analysys Mason emphasises that pro-competitive regulation benefits consumers as much as it does the telecommunications industry. In the broadband field, it enables final users to obtain affordable prices and, at the same time, allows operators to accumulate more revenue because more consumers opt for broadband at competitive prices, explains the study.
This clearly refutes the arguments that claim a framework that allows for widespread competition harms investment: “access regulation has not hindered investments in NGA by the incumbents”. On the contrary, in many cases, “alternative operators […] appear to have driven incumbents to invest”. An expert from Analysys Mason argued that “When alternative operators have been the first to invest in fibre networks, incumbents have then responded with their own investment plans”. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)