The European Commission has decided to close the file in opened in July 1998 on some of the in-depth investigations against fourteen fixed and mobile operator's interconnection rates.
Regarding the termination of mobile-to-fixed calls:
In Italy, Telecom Italia has informed the Commission that it now charges the same price to mobile and fixed operators for termination of calls in its public switched telecommunication network, thus ending the discrimination between these two operators. Since this new policy also leads to an important cost reduction for mobile operator, the Commission has decided to end its investigation.
In Spain, the telecommunications regulator CMT has imposed changes on Telefonica's reference interconnection offer. Thus this offer should apply not only to fixed operators but also to mobile operator. The Commission has therefore decided to close this case.
The Commission has suspended its inquiry into the German and Netherlands cases' because of the investigations already made by their respective national telecommunications regulators.
Concerning the fixed network operator's retention on fixed-to-mobile calls, one can say:
The Commission has decided to close the Irish file on account of the announcement by Telecom Eireann of new prices which reduced its retention on fixed-to-mobile calls.
The Commission has also suspended its proceedings concerning the KPN Telecom's retention on fixed-to-mobile calls since the Dutch telecommunications regulator OPTA is already examining this issue.
Meanwhile, the Commission assessment of the retention applied to fixed-to-mobile calls by Post&Telekom Austria, Telecom Italia, Deutsche Telekom, Belgacom and Telefonica is continuing. In the two latter cases, the closure of the inquiry is conceivable.
Concerning the termination by mobile operators, one can further add:
The Commission is currently reviewing submissions on termination rates received from the Italian and German mobile operators.
This article is based and incorporates information provided by the European Commission (Press releases) and is intended for general information. Specialist advice should be sought before acting on it.
Regarding the termination of mobile-to-fixed calls:
In Italy, Telecom Italia has informed the Commission that it now charges the same price to mobile and fixed operators for termination of calls in its public switched telecommunication network, thus ending the discrimination between these two operators. Since this new policy also leads to an important cost reduction for mobile operator, the Commission has decided to end its investigation.
In Spain, the telecommunications regulator CMT has imposed changes on Telefonica's reference interconnection offer. Thus this offer should apply not only to fixed operators but also to mobile operator. The Commission has therefore decided to close this case.
The Commission has suspended its inquiry into the German and Netherlands cases' because of the investigations already made by their respective national telecommunications regulators.
Concerning the fixed network operator's retention on fixed-to-mobile calls, one can say:
The Commission has decided to close the Irish file on account of the announcement by Telecom Eireann of new prices which reduced its retention on fixed-to-mobile calls.
The Commission has also suspended its proceedings concerning the KPN Telecom's retention on fixed-to-mobile calls since the Dutch telecommunications regulator OPTA is already examining this issue.
Meanwhile, the Commission assessment of the retention applied to fixed-to-mobile calls by Post&Telekom Austria, Telecom Italia, Deutsche Telekom, Belgacom and Telefonica is continuing. In the two latter cases, the closure of the inquiry is conceivable.
Concerning the termination by mobile operators, one can further add:
The Commission is currently reviewing submissions on termination rates received from the Italian and German mobile operators.
This article is based and incorporates information provided by the European Commission (Press releases) and is intended for general information. Specialist advice should be sought before acting on it.
