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.