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New European Directives :. Impact on regulation : New legal approach Impact on market Stimulation of network and service-investment ?. Why new Directives ?. Important question : orientation for NRA’S POLICY Former (ONP) automatism superseded
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New European Directives : • Impact on regulation : New legal approach • Impact on market Stimulation of network and service-investment ?
Why new Directives ? Important question : orientation for NRA’S POLICY • Former (ONP) automatism superseded • Better adaptation to “multifunctional technologies” • Convergence (multimedia) • Harmonisation (ERG)
BUT MAINLY : • Stimulating investment (major EU concern) • More flexible approach : only regulate where and if necessary • Objective : eventually only competition law (EU optimism)
Method ? Is paradoxical : flexible regulation is the objective complex analyses are the method Indeed, 3 steps : market definitions market analyses imposing/not imposing regulation
Analysis is done by applying competition concepts in the first two steps. • Market definitions : European Recommendation 18 markets ! (Including BROADCASTING) • Based on apportionment formulas (national, international, fixed, mobile, IC, Retail/Wholesale…) • Possibly : geographic division per Member state !
Second step : market analysis • Does competition work ? • Or is there dominance ? • Joint-dominance ? Not only market share as criterion !
If necessary : “REMEDIES” (ERG paper) • 5 kinds, going from SOFT to HARD • Can be combined (if necessary) • Transparency and Non-discrimination Accounting Separation Cost Orientation Access Obligation No cross-subsidisation
But always : • Technology-neutrality • Stimulate Investments so concepts of : • “emerging markets” • Replicability” • Only ex ante regulation if necessary • Possibly impose rules on non-dominant players • Consultations
Conclusion : • First steps will be important, delicate and time-consuming • (before finalisation : the old rules continue to be applied) • Risks of lack of transparency – coherence – stability • Risk of multiple “legal cases”
All this must support the market and technological evolutions Especially : • 3th generation mobile • Other markets : VDSL cable-broadband FTTH WLL Hotspots (emerging ?)
But, MAJOR SHIFT TO EXPECT : From VOICE to DATA : mails VOIP/IP telephony In context where there is already substitution PSTN/MOBILE
IMPACT ON : • new challenges for regulation • MORE IMPORTANT : • revenues fixed line operators • profit for customers • changes in interconnection approach • towards different access approach • stimulus for services / content development
Some other concerns • sustainable competition : balance short term / long term • efficiency in source-resource management (frequencies – numbering) : dynamic policy • consumer protection : universal service police control – price caps
Accounting and costing principles • Possible abuses : • excessive prices • margin squeeze / predatory prices • unfair discrimination • Needs : • SMP operators : transparent costing processes ensuring cost orientation • NRA : evidence of regulatory policing