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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 9881
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 25
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/telecommunications

Commission urges AGCOM to notify it of undertakings offered by Telecom Italia

Brussels, 14/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a letter dated Tuesday 14 April, the European Commission asked the Italian telecoms regulator (AGCOM) to notify it of the undertakings offered by Telecom Italia introducing significant changes in its internal organisation in order to ensure fair treatment of competitors. The measures approved by AGCOM have still not been sent to the Commission. “When a telecoms incumbent separates parts of its business operationally or functionally, in agreement with the national telecoms regulator, this can have important implications for the internal market”, stated Viviane Reding, the EU's telecoms commissioner. Neelie Kroes, the EU's competition commissioner, added: "We need to make sure that Telecom Italia's undertakings, once applied, will indeed improve the competitive situation in the Italian access markets”. The measures in question focus on the reorganisation of Telecom Italia's internal activities and the creation of an autonomous division separated from the group's commercial activities (“Open Access”) for ensuring non-discriminatory access for alternative operators to access regulated products provided by Open Access. The Commission emphasises that these measures directly affect the capacity of alternative operator to compete with Telecom Italia. The Commission claims that the market analysis AGCOM sent it, contained neither regulatory obligations nor a thorough analysis of Telecom Italia's undertakings that could guarantee completion. (I.L./transl.rh)

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