Brussels, 07/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a letter sent on Monday 7 September, the European Commission repeated its calls for the Slovakian telecoms regulator, Telekomunikaèný úrad Slovenskej republiky (TÚSR), to bring mobile termination rates (MTRs) to more competitive levels in Slovakia. MTRs are the wholesale charges which mobile operators charge other operators for connecting calls on their networks. The Commission sent its first letter to Bratislava on 24 April last (EUROPE 9890).
On 7 August 2009, TÚSR notified the Commission of the details of the costing method to be applied by three mobile operators (Orange Slovensko, a.s. [Orange], T-Mobile Slovensko, a.s. [T-Mobile] and Telefónica O2 Slovakia, s.r.o. [O2]) when calculating mobile termination costs in Slovakia. In its draft measure, TÚSR proposes to regulate MTRs using a transitional cost model based on the operators' actually incurred costs (Fully Allocated Historic Cost, FAHC) and supplemented by benchmarking against the average MTR of 32 European countries. This notified measure also follows provisional measures adopted by TÚSR as part of a dispute settlement on the level of MTRs in Slovakia. The provisional MTR (applicable from 1 August 2009) for the two largest operators (Orange and T-Mobile) is set at 7.92 eurocent/minute, while the third entrant O2 is allowed to charge a higher MTR at 9.25 eurocent/minute (representing a higher level of asymmetry than applied in 2008).
The Commission's letter urges TÚSR to re-consider its proposed transitional methodologies and the foreseen increase in asymmetry with a view to moving more swiftly to the efficient MTR level. This would in turn help avoid the need for sudden, sharp reductions in 2012 and facilitate a smoother transition to the efficient costing methodology set out in the Commission's Recommendation.
All EU national regulators should apply the common EU approach to termination rates by the end of 2012. Only regulators with limited resources may use different approaches for a limited period as long as they achieve a pro-competitive result. (O.L./transl.rh)