Europe - Regulatory Environment - New Regulatory Framework

Synopsis

An important addition to the Europe – Regulatory Environment Overview report, this report considers in more detail the key issues covered by the New Regulatory Framework implemented by the EC in July 2003. Key issues covered by the five relevant directives include competition, network authorisation, interconnection and access, universal service obligations and user’s rights, and data protection. Both fixed network and mobile network interconnection issues are considered, including Internet access via FRIACO regimes. Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is detailed, with an overview of what is actually involved in LLU, an up to date status report of the LLU across the region, and an analysis of this state of play. Competition requirements for Number Portability and Carrier Selection are also addressed, along with the Universal Service Obligation. This report is primarily based on data included in the Ninth Report on Regulatory Implementation published in December 2003, which is largely concerned with the regulatory updates mandated by the EC throughout 2003.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Ninth report on regulatory implementation
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 The New Regulatory Framework (NRF)
  • 2.3 Mixed implementation of the NRF
  • 2.4 Status of transposition in the member states
    • 2.4.1 Framework Directive – issues and concerns
    • 2.4.2 Authorisation Directive – issues and concerns
    • 2.4.3 Access and Interconnection Directive – issues and concerns
    • 2.4.4 Universal Service Directive – issues and concerns
    • 2.4.5 E-Privacy Directive – issues and concerns
    • 2.4.6 Competition Directive – issues and concerns
  • 2.5 New accession countries
• 3. EC assesses the European Communications Market
  • 3.1 Stabilising communications sector poised for growth
  • 3.2 Carrier pre-selection helps competition
  • 3.3 Consumer prices falling
• 4. Regulatory issues
  • 4.1.1 National regulators vital for enforcement
  • 4.1.2 Local loop unbundling pricing and access issues remain
  • 4.2 Broadband
    • 4.2.1 Significant growth
    • 4.2.2 Leaders, mainstream, and laggard markets
    • 4.2.3 Leased lines improve – but concerns remain
  • 4.3 Fixed telecommunications
• 5. Interconnection
  • 5.1 The Interconnection Directive
  • 5.2 Mobile interconnection
    • 5.2.1 EC forced charges down
  • 5.3 Internet interconnection (FRIACO)
• 6. Access (Local Loop)
  • 6.1 Overview
  • 6.2 Unbundling of the copper pair
  • 6.3 Bitstream access
  • 6.4 Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) access
  • 6.5 Call origination (also called indirect access)
  • 6.6 Local loop unbundling comes to a grinding halt in Europe
    • 6.6.1 EC actions taken against Member States
    • 6.6.2 European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) scorecard
• 7. Number portability
  • 7.1 Fixed Number Portability (FNP)
  • 7.2 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
• 8. Carrier preselection
• 9. Universal Service Obligation (USO)
• 10. Related reports

• Table 1 – EU local loop unbundling – 2003

• Exhibit 1 – Sample mobile interconnection regimes in Europe