Brussels, 06/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - After having presented the eighth Commission report on regulation in the telecoms sector to the Council (see EUROPE yesterday p 11), Erkki Liikanen, will be presenting the report to the press on Monday. Focusing on market development, this 2002 edition concludes that despite difficulties experienced by the sector, positive indicators reveal continued demand for services and genuine competitive activity. Although a number of new operator authorised to supply networks and services has slightly declined, the number of direct and indirect access suppliers has increased, notes the Commission. The report also highlights that new entrants have continued to increase their market share in terms of income. The report also stresses that prices charged by the traditional operators have gone down in both national and international communications and that prices charged by market newcomers are noticeably lower. However, average spending per inhabitant in 2001 continued to increase as well as the number of subscriptions for mobile phone and Internet services. The report concludes that in the context of regulation following four and a half years of liberalisation, provisions that have been set up at a national level generally comply with EU regulations. The Commission, nevertheless, admitted efforts still needed to be made, particularly in connection with access price issues for local unbundling. The Commission also points out that current infringement proceedings, "indicate that the accounting of the annual universal service costs are available in only two fields…and compliance with the provisions in many Member States still has to be ensured". The commission said that it was prepared to begin new proceedings in no progress was made in the area. EUROPE will be looking at this report again.