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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
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The latest proposals from Brussels on telecom regulation meet predictable opposition from Europe’s major network operators.
Plans for the future regulation of the telecom sector In Europe, which were formally unveiled yesterday, have provoked an angry response from the EU’s traditional telcos. The proposals would see many markets deemed fully competitive removed from regulation, but would also push for greater functional separation of wholesale and retail business within major telcos. The latter’s representative body, the Association of European Telecommunication Network Operators (ETNO), was quick to challenge the principle of separation.
“The proposals to open up spectrum have the potential to boost the deployment of innovative services and stimulate wireless broadband access technologies, thereby leading to more infrastructure-based competition”, said Michael Bartholomew, ETNO Director. “Mandatory functional separation risks, on the contrary, resulting in increased costs for access and less investment in new and alternative networks, thereby reducing long-term network competition and limiting consumer choice.”
The proposals will now be placed before the European Parliament and the EU Council of Minister, where’s ETNO’s lobbying role will be prominent in what promises to be a highly politicised debate (for background, click here).
Jim Chalmers
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