Commissie verwelkomt de lagere beëindigingstarieven van de netwerkbedrijven in Italië (en)
The European Commission has welcomed efforts by the Italian telecoms regulator (AGCOM) to lower termination rates of alternative fixed network operators. In a letter sent to AGCOM today, the Commission agrees with the regulator's proposal for a cost-oriented approach leading to a symmetric termination rate of 0.57 euro cent/min for all fixed network operators by 1 July 2010. At the same time, however, the Commission remains concerned about inconsistent levels of termination rates across the EU.
"I know this has not been an easy decision for AGCOM, and I welcome its firm intention to move to lower, symmetric termination rates for fixed alternative operators by 1 July 2010," said Viviane Reding, the EU's Telecoms Commissioner. "Cost orientation is an important principle for more efficient termination rates and thus cheaper consumer services across the EU. However AGCOM's proposal will continue to allow high asymmetry of fixed termination rates for a two-year transitional period, departing from regulatory decisions in other EU Member States. It is unfortunate that both national regulators and the Commission still lack the instruments to deal with such inconsistencies, which can distort competition among operators from different Member States. I therefore urge the European Regulators Group to work towards more consistent and effective termination rates. In parallel, an EU legal instrument for greater clarity and consistency is in preparation."
On 6 February 2008, AGCOM notified the European Commission of draft price-control measures for alternative fixed network operators' termination rates – the wholesale rates operators charge each other for connecting calls on their network, and influence consumer prices. The Commission previously reminded AGCOM that, according to EU Telecoms rules, remedies should provide adequate transparency and legal certainty for market players and asked for specific details of its proposed four-year glide path for reducing termination rates. The Commission also asked AGCOM to develop a cost model for calculating termination rates of alternative fixed network operators that takes account of new entrants' need to become efficient over time (IP/06/685).
AGCOM has suggested that the presently high asymmetry in fixed termination rates remain for transitional period. Although the Commission would have preferred to avoid high asymmetries even for a temporary period, it welcomes that the proposed final value for alternative network operators' fixed termination rates is lower than in its previous decision.
Background:
In its previous notification to the Commission in 2006, AGCOM designated the incumbent operator, Telecom Italia, and 11 alternative fixed network operators (ANOs) as having significant market power in terminating calls on their fixed networks. AGCOM further proposed a number of remedies. However, it proposed lighter touch (asymmetric) obligations for ANOs than for Telecom Italia. While Telecom Italia’s termination rates were to reach a cost-oriented level in 2009, ANOs were to be allowed to charge higher rates for a 4-year period. The Commission requested that AGCOM define the actual glide path for reducing the ANOs' termination rates towards symmetry and calculate them based on an efficient cost model. The present notification relates to AGCOM's proposed cost model and glide path for defining ANO fixed termination tariffs in Italy.
In today's letter, the Commission endorses AGCOM's proposal but notes that the transitional asymmetric rates to be applied in the interim period are high in absolute and relative terms. This high asymmetry can be attributed to several factors:
high and different starting values of different ANOs' glide paths (starting as high as 2.60 eurocent/min);
inclusion of operator specific data in the cost model;
inclusion of additional costs and mark-ups (decreasing over time) taking account of so-called "competition costs" (in recognition of initial start-up and sunk costs of entry) and a proportion of the costs of customer premises equipment (in particular the part associated with certain signalling functionalities).
[Graphic in PDF & Word format]
The letter sent today is not legally binding, but must be taken into account by AGCOM. Current EU Telecoms Rules do not give the Commission power to amend regulatory remedies of national telecoms regulators. A proposal to change this was made by the Commission in November 2007 (see IP/07/1677).
Source: European Regulators Group Document ERG (07) 83 final 080312, page 33. This chart shows the level of symmetry/asymmetry for fixed termination rates regulated by national telecoms regulators.