Mobile customers can swap networks, keep number. SIM registration period comes to an end. Ghana will next month allow mobile phone customers to switch network operators but keep their numbers, a move that will increase competition and quality of service, an industry regulator said on Friday. The West African country has some 17 million subscribers able to choose from five networks, including MTN Group Ltd MTN.J, Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L) and Bharti Airtel Ltd (BRTI.NS). A sixth is due to come on line soon. But tariffs in the country are relatively high and customers frequently complain of poor services. "We believe mobile number portability will revolutionize the mobile sector in terms of competitiveness and quality service delivery," Mawuko Zormelo, a spokesman for the National Communication Authority, said on Friday.

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Source: Reuters

The European Payments Council (EPC), representing the European banking industry in relation to payments, has released the Mobile Contactless SEPA Card Payments Interoperability Implementation Guidelines for public consultation. The EPC said that it is committed to advancing a sustainable mobile contactless payments ecosystem through the delivery of implementation guidelines that promote an interoperable and flexible architecture. The final version of these guidelines is expected to be published in October 2011.

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom

The New Zealand and Australian regulators have launched a formal investigation into the trans-Tasman roaming services provided by the two countries' mobile operators. Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce made the announcement this morning with his Australian counterpart Senator Stephen Conroy, at the Korea-Australia-New Zealand (KANZ) Broadband Summit.

"Many New Zealanders take their mobile phone, tablet or laptop with them when they travel to Australia. They need to have confidence that they are purchasing services in a competitive market. If this investigation finds they are not, then regulatory intervention will be considered," says Mr Joyce. The announcement follows the publication in May last year of a discussion paper that sought stakeholder views on whether a formal investigation was warranted.

See Press Release
Source: Celluar-news

Hutchison 3G UK (Three) has topped the complaints leagues as compiled by the UK's telecoms regulator, Ofcom. Three topped the chart with 0.15 complaints per 1000 customers from October 2010 to February 2011, while O2 was the best performer with 0.04 complaints per 1,000 customers. On average, Ofcom receives 450 telecoms complaints per day about a range of issues including mis-selling, billing errors, lack of service and customer service problems, which reflects the complexity of the telecoms market.

See Press Release 
Source: Cellular-news 

Orange Switzerland says that it is modernising its GSM network and getting its 3G mobile network ready for the future. Modernising the entire mobile network will also reduce its electricity consumption by up to 30%. This will take about two years to complete and forms part of an investment programme of more than CHF700 million (USD780 million) for network expansion over a period of five years. ‘Mobile data transfer has increased more than thirtyfold in just three years, while the explosive growth in smartphones and mobile data services continues apace,’ said Gabriel Flichy, Orange Switzerland’s VP of Network & IT. ‘We will be making huge improvements in urban areas with HSPA+, which allows us to offer theoretical connection speeds of up to 42Mbps. And as an advantageous offshoot of the modernisation, we are also introducing EDGE to our GSM network. This will enable users in rural areas without 3G coverage to surf the Orange network more comfortably. br>

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography 

According to local press reports, mobile operator Vodacom South Africa has confirmed that it has exceeded 1,000 active 43.2Mbps HSPA+ sites on its network. Although the deployment has taken place over time, Vodacom stressed that it did not want to publicise the improved speeds until they had achieved ‘significant’ HSPA+ coverage. CEO Pieter Uys commented: ‘We have actually had the technology up and running for some time, but we wanted to have a critical mass of at least 1,000 base stations before flipping the switch to allow consumers access at up to double the speed. We wanted to make sure that we had the service available in more than just one city’.

See Press Release 
Source: Telegeography 

Fibre-To-The-Home is beginning to be announced in Africa’s larger markets: Jamii Telecoms in Kenya (see issue 540), i3Africa in South Africa and Algerie Telecom has been piloting it. But for most telcos, the next stage after fibre metronets is rolling out Fibre-To-The-Cabinet. Both offer a route for fixed line telcos to re-invent themselves and position themselves ahead of the competition but there is a need for a good combination of a strong fibre network investment and content services to deliver over the newly created network. Last week Russell Southwood spoke to Sarat Lallah, CEO of Orange Mauritius about its experience.

See Press Release
Source: BalancingAct-Africa

European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes is visiting the CeBIT2011 information technology (IT) exhibition in Hannover, Germany on 2 and 3 March, where the main theme is cloud computing. Cloud computing is the term used when users such as companies and public administrations, using networks such as the internet, access data and software stored on a service provider's computers in another location (potentially on the other side of the world). It is one of the key enabling information technologies that can help European businesses –especially SMEs – to drastically reduce IT costs, help governments supply services at a lower cost to citizens and make computing much more energy efficient.

See Press Release 
Source: Europe

Ofcom announced how a new form of wireless communication called “white space technology” will work in practice. This follows an earlier consultation, exploring the potential of the technology, which could be used for a wide range of innovative applications. For example, technology manufacturers have suggested that it might wirelessly link up different devices and offer enhanced broadband access in rural areas. The technology works by searching for unused radio waves called “white spaces” between TV channels to transmit and receive wireless signals. Compared with other forms of wireless technology, such as Bluetooth and WiFi, white-space devices are being designed to use lower frequencies that have traditionally been reserved for TV.

See Press Release
Source: UK Ofcom

India will implement mobile number portability, which will allow users to switch service providers while retaining their phone number, on Nov. 25. The launch was delayed thrice because some telecom operators weren't prepared, but the "networks are now technically ready," a government statement said late Sunday. The service will be launched in Haryana state on Nov. 25, and across the country in phases after that.

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will conduct a formal inquiry into customer service and complaints handling in the telecommunications industry following the on-going high volume of complaints to the industry ombudsman. Announcing the inquiry today, ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman said, ‘Many would share the ACMA’s concern about whether the current arrangements which underpin telecommunications consumer protection are really effective in dealing with the issues that concern consumers most. ‘The trend-line growth and sheer quantum of complaints about complaint handling and customer service —up to 900 every working day—reflects poorly on the entire industry. Whether this is evidence of a failing regulatory system or just a perception of that failure, I now believe this issue has to be confronted directly and urgently otherwise we will be talking about these same issues for years to come.

See Press Release
Source: ACMA

The Federal Communications Commission launched new digital tools -- the Consumer Broadband Test and the Broadband Dead Zone Report -- that allow consumers to test their broadband service and report areas where broadband is not available.
“Transparency empowers consumers, promotes innovation and investment, and encourages competition,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “The FCC’s new digital tools will arm users with real-time information about their broadband connection and the agency with useful data about service across the country. By informing consumers about their broadband service quality, these tools help eliminate confusion and make the market work more effectively.” The fixed version is available at www.broadband.gov

See Press Release  
Source: Federal Communications Commission - FCC  

New rules to come into effect on 1 July 2010 will give consumers the choice of barring all premium SMS from their mobile phones and thus preventing unwanted premium SMS charges. ‘If you don’t want these services, you can simply contact your phone company and ask for them to be turned off,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.

‘This will be a great option for parents who want to make sure their kids don’t sign up for something without understanding the charges. And people trying to manage their phone budget can stop premium charges by barring these services from their phone. ‘This is the latest in a package of measures we have put in place so mobile users can feel confident they will only receive and pay for services they actually want.’

See Press Release
Source: ACMA - Australia Government

Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações has adopted a draft decision on the obligation to control prices in the wholesale markets for voice call termination on individual mobile networks. According to the draft decision, which will only become final following the conclusion of a public consultation and once all comments received under this consultation have been reviewed, mobile termination rates will continue to move gradually downwards, over a period of time which will allow Portugal to comply with the European Commission Recommendation on termination rates while avoiding disruption.

See Press Release

Source: Portugal ANACOM

Como una medida para impulsar la competitividad, promover las inversiones brindar certeza jurídica, y apoyar al sector telecomunicaciones, la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) da por concluidos 22 títulos de concesión para operar sistemas de radiolocalización de personas (paggin) y dos títulos de transmisión de radio y TV restringidas, con ello, recupera espectro radioeléctrico para ser aprovechado con nuevas tecnologías.

La resolución se realizo luego de no presentarse en tiempo y forma las solicitudes de prorroga así como por comprobar tecnología obsoleta de estas técnicas de transmisión.

De esta manera, la SCT busca impulsar la competitividad del sector, y generar un ambiente favorable para la planeación de los negocios, así como favorecer a los consumidores con una más amplia variedad de servicios y proveedores.

Finalmente, la dependencia considera que los criterios indispensables para el desarrollo saludable del sector son: fomentar la competencia y evitar el acaparamiento del espectro; garantizar la explotación eficiente del espectro y el pago de una contraprestación por las concesiones; incrementar la cobertura de los servicios; Introducir nuevas tecnologías; y, permitir la continuidad de los servicios para el usuario.

 

See Press Release

Source: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transporte

Axtel, Mexico's No.2 fixed-line carrier, having received a concession from the Communications and Transportation Ministry to provide satellite and pay TV services, announced on Tuesday that pay TV will be added to its current offering of phone and Internet services starting early next year.

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Source Total Telecom

Today, eCall, Europe's in-car automatic emergency call system, received the full backing of Europe's mobile phone industry. Representatives of the industry's GSM Association underlined their commitment to this life-saving technology by signing the EU's Memorandum of Understanding to implement eCall across Europe. eCall automatically dials   112, Europe's single emergency number  , when a car has a serious accident and sends its location to the nearest emergency service – even when passengers do not know or cannot say where they are. Rolling out eCall requires close cooperation between public authorities, car companies and mobile phone operators and could save up to 2,500 lives each year in the EU when fully deployed and reduce the severity of injuries by 10 to 15%.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

The German telecoms regulator, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), has notified the European Commission of its plans to impose new regulatory obligations on certain operators for the provision of wholesale termination services, which they provide to other fixed or mobile operators for connecting incoming calls to their networks in Germany. Fixed and mobile termination rates are the prices which operators charge each other for connecting calls to their networks. These rates and the provision of termination services are typically regulated in order to avoid that operators, who have a monopoly for the provision of such services on their networks,
refuse to accept incoming phone calls from another network or set excessive termination rates.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

Abril confirmó el patrón cada vez más competitivo que ya mostraron en meses anteriores los mercados de banda ancha y de la telefonía móvil. Del total de ganancias netas de líneas de banda ancha en los últimos tres meses (febrero-abril), más del 66% fueron captadas por los operadores alternativos. Por su parte, los nuevos entrantes en telefonía móvil, Yoigo (el cuarto operador de red) y el conjunto de los operadores móviles virtuales (OMV) se hicieron con el 56,4% de las altas netas en ese periodo, según las cifras de la última nota mensual de la Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones.
 
See Press Release
Source: CMT - Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones

Incumbent Camtel has cut the price of installation and its monthly charges monthly charges by 25%. In a press statement issued in Yaounde last week, the General Manager of CAMTEL, David Nkoto Emane said that subscribers for private homes will pay CFA 35,775 instead of CFA 47,700. Business customers representing companies, associations, financial institutions, NGOs, etc, will on their part pay CFA 89,440 instead of CFA 119,250.

"To make subscriptions affordable for all Cameroonians, the above charges shall be payable in ten monthly instalments", the statement said, stating that penalty for non-payment of late payment of bills is henceforth fixed at CFA 1,550 instead of CFA 1,789.

See Press Release
Source: Balancingact-africa

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a paper on measures to improve Telecom Penetration in Rural India – The next 100 million subscribers.

See paper
Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

The Commerce Commission has today released its final standard terms determination (STD) on the non-price terms on which access providers must make co-location on cellular mobile transmission sites (the Mobile Co-location Service) available to other mobile network operators.

The Mobile Co-location Service allows the equipment of a mobile network operator to be installed on another operator’s cell masts. Co-location makes it easier for mobile network operators to manage their mobile networks by allowing for the sharing of facilities, and avoids the unnecessary and inefficient duplication of facilities. As a result, co-location contributes towards removing barriers to entry and lead to the improvement of the competitive conditions in the retail mobile services market. 

See Press Release
Source: Commerce Commission

Competitive pressure is forcing MTN to eliminate roaming fees for users travelling between different countries, in a move that could noticeably dent its profit . The cellular operator has not yet wiped out roaming fees across its networks, but has tested the feasibility of doing so in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria.

Last week it said it would introduce free roaming across all 21 countries where it operates in the first half of next year . Benin will be the next country to benefit, joining the trio of pilot countries by the end of this month.

Rival operator Zain demonstrated that free roaming is perfectly possible way back in September 2006 when it launched its "One Network" service, letting users cross between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda without paying high roaming fees. Nor do they pay to receive incoming calls when they travel -- another favourite way for operators to inflate their profits.

See Press Release
Source: Balancingact-africa

Australians have listed more than 2.3 million telephone numbers on the Do Not Call Register since its launch one year ago. The register, which is overseen by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, was established in May 2007 under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006. It makes it illegal for most kinds of telemarketing calls to be made to domestic and private fixed line and mobile telephone numbers listed on the register in the absence of consent.

See Press Release
Source: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

The study, which was announced in March, will focus on raising the level of understanding of the Commission, industry and the wider community of key technological developments that will emerge during the next five years, and their impact on the commercial and competitive environment for telecommunications services.

See Press Release
Source: Commerce Commission

El Consejo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, en nombre del Estado, garantiza la continuidad y calidad de servicio de telefonía móvil en Ecuador. Esta entidad resolvió ayer terminar de forma irreversible la negociación llevada entre la Senatel y la operadora Conecel (Porta) debido a que la propuesta económica de esta empresa móvil no era conveniente para los intereses del Estado.

Esta resolución del Consejo dispone además iniciar un proceso de reversión a partir del próximo 26 de agosto de este año, fecha en la que finaliza el período contractual entre la Operadora Conecel y el Estado Ecuatoriano.

See Press Release
Source: Consejo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL)

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued today an invitation to engineering firms to submit their technical and financial proposals to take over the responsibilities of and operate the Telecommunications Technical Office (TTO).

The office performs as the interface between the telecommunications industry and official bodies involved in the public and private infrastructure deployment such as the Central Planning Unit (CPU) of the Ministry of Works.

See Press Release
Source: Bahrain - TRA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority

Para impulsar el desarrollo de las telecomunicaciones y la economía del país, así como acercar nuevas tecnologías a la población y permitir la entrada de nuevos inversionistas a este sector, el secretario de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT), Luis Téllez, dio a conocer el Nuevo Programa de Licitaciones de Frecuencias que incorpora una nueva banda para el Tren Suburbano.

Con este programa, los consumidores tendrán más y mejores opciones para acceder a servicios fundamentales como la banda ancha. Las nuevas frecuencias anunciadas hoy, permitirán también que aquellos operadores de radiofrecuencias que han llegado a su límite de capacidad puedan continuar creciendo.

See Press Release
Source: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes

A robust plan for the three-way operational separation of Telecom New Zealand was approved on 30 March 2008 by Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe. "Separation Day" was 31 March 2008.

The robust, three-way operational separation of Telecom New Zealand is required by the Telecommunications Act 2001. Part 2A of the Telecommunications Act 2001 also sets out the statutory process for the Minister to finalise legally enforceable undertakings (as part of the "separation plan") with Telecom.

See Press Release
Source: Ministry of Economic Development

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a new, online resource for those in rural America looking to bring the benefits of broadband services to their communities.

This “Broadband Opportunities for Rural America” web site makes available the expertise and resources of the FCC and USDA in a single, easily-accessible location and user-friendly format.
The site provides information on the different technology platforms that can be used to provide broadband service, how to access spectrum necessary for delivery of wireless broadband services, government funding for broadband services, proceedings and initiatives, and data on broadband deployment.

See Website
See Press Release
Source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has announced three initiatives to promote increased consultation, transparency and accountability in its radiofrequency spectrum planning and management.

‘Demand for spectrum is increasing, the range of stakeholders we are dealing with is both increasing and becoming more varied, and spectrum issues themselves are becoming increasingly complex,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘

1) Establishment of a new advisory group, the Radiocommunications Consultative Committee.
2) Consultation will be a radiocommunications conference, designed to enable broad participation by a wide range of stakeholders and to foster discussion of future trends and spectrum requirements for new services.
3) Development and annual updating of a five-year rolling spectrum strategy plan.

See Press Release
Source: ACMA - Australian Communications and Media Authority

En cumplimiento de lo dispuesto por Ley 1151 de 2007, la Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) presenta al sector la propuesta regulatoria para ampliar la metodología actual para la contraprestación por el uso de infraestructura compartida de postes y ductos, para su aplicación a las torres, hasta tanto se defina el nuevo marco regulatorio contemplado en el proyecto “Revisión de la metodología para acceso y uso compartido de infraestructuras físicas y/o bienes de uso público para la prestación de servicios de telecomunicaciones”.

See Documentos relacionados: Proyecto de Resolución y Documento de Análisis

See Press Release
Source: CRT Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones

El Consejo de la CMT ha adoptado una decisión sobre las líneas maestras de la regulación que aplicará a las Redes de Acceso de Nueva Generación (NGA). El objetivo de la CMT es incentivar la inversión y la innovación tecnológica de los operadores en el despliegue de redes de fibra óptica, promover el desarrollo de una competencia efectiva y sostenible, así como garantizar la inversión en infraestructuras llevada a cabo por los competidores del operador tradicional.

See Press Release
Source: Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT)

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) launched an on-line database service, making available a channel for the public to access readily via the internet the coverage information of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services on a building-by-building basis.

"This is an initiative by OFTA for the convenience of the public to enquire about DTT services coverage information for residential buildings," a spokesperson for OFTA said.

See Press Release
Source: OFTA - Office for the Telecommunications Authority

"En materia social, hoy es evidente el aumento de nuestra inversión en telecomunicaciones sociales así como su impacto en las instituciones oficiales educativas y hospitalarias. En 2007 se aumentó el presupuesto de inversión en un 93% frente a 2006. En 2007 se invirtieron $251.147 millones y en 2006, $130.084 millones de 2006." Sostuvo la Ministra de Comunicaciones, María del Rosario Guerra.

Desde el punto de vista regulatorio se expidió el Decreto 2870 denominado de Convergencia con el fin de maximizar la utilización de la infraestructura de telecomunicaciones existente, así como la apertura del servicio de larga distancia. "Al momento se han recibido 89 solicitudes de Título Habilitante Convergente de los cuales se han expedido 39. De estos 39, 20 incluyen el servicio de Larga Distancia" precisó la Ministra.

See Press Release

Source: Ministerio de Comunicaciones

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) of the European Union (EU) has reached an agreement on the ''VAT package''. At a meeting held on 4 December, the Council put together a compromise on the application of value added tax (VAT) on the provision of telecommunications, broadcasting and electronic services.

The new measures involve a change in the place of taxation for VAT on services from the place where the supplier is located to that where the customer is situated, with a ''one-stop'' system enabling suppliers to fulfil a single set of obligations in their home Member State, including for services provided in other member states. VAT revenue will be transferred from the supplier's home country to the member states where the consumer is located.

See Press Release

Source: National Communication Authority (ANACOM), Presidency of the EU

Over the next several months, 12 mobile operators will run trials of contactless mobile payment services in Australia, France, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, Norway, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey and the U.S. as a precursor to commercial launches. The trials form part of the GSMA’s Pay-Buy-Mobile initiative, which is designed to provide a single global approach to enabling contactless payments using a mobile phone. Consumers will be able to use their handsets to quickly, easily and securely pay for goods and services in shops, restaurants and train stations.

Press Release

Source: GSMA

New Delhi, 28^{th August, 2007 : It has come to the notice of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that certain service providers are providing CLIP facility as a compulsory chargeable Value Added Service. Examination by the Authority showed that no significant amount of work is involved in presenting the caller line identity to the called subscriber and thus the incremental cost of providing CLIP facility is negligible. Thus the Authority finds no justification in making CLIP facility a compulsory chargeable item. The Authority recalled its earlier Direction issued vide F.No.301-49/2005 dated 16th September, 2005 that all monthly fixed recurring charges including CLIP which are compulsory for a subscriber under any given tariff plan shall be shown under one head to make it easier for the consumer to make a choice from among all tariff plans available in the market. Full Pres release}

^{Source: TRAI, India}

Ofcom today published proposals to require certain types of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to allow users to call 999 by early 2008. This follows research revealing that as many as 78% of VoIP users who cannot use their service to call 999 thought they could, or did not know whether they could.

Ofcom proposes that any VoIP service allowing users to make calls to ordinary phone numbers must also offer access to 999.

Ofcom wants to ensure that users of mainstream VoIP services do not suffer as a result of trying to dial 999 using a service that does not offer them access. If they had to then locate an ordinary landline or mobile phone, users might face a delay of seconds or minutes in getting through to emergency services, which could prove critical. Full Press Release

Source: OFCOM, United Kingdom

The Commission today proposes measures to make it easier and more lucrative for mobile operators in Europe to offer and develop innovative wireless technologies. By opening radio spectrum for advanced mobile data and multimedia services (such as 3G services that allow video streaming and fast downloads on a mobile handset), the Commission proposals, if they become law, will increase the number and choice of wireless services available, and will expand their geographic coverage to the benefit of all European citizens. The new EU measures will also reduce network deployment costs for Europe's wireless communications industry. Full Press Release

Source: European Commission

ARCEP’s decision on value-added services stipulating the legal framework for relations between operators has just been approved by the Minister. It is part of ARCEP’s overreaching work on the operation of the VAS market, which will continue with the re-examination of France Telecom’s obligations.

ARCEP reaffirms the urgency to re-establish the bodies responsible for the respect of deontological rules for the content of value-added services. It will also continue its action for consumer protection in order to improve the transparency and clarity of call tariffs to VAS.

ARCEP has just completed the first stage of its analysis of the functioning of the value-added services market. Following two successive public consultations, ARCEP adopted a first decision which clarifies a certain number of operating rules for the relations between the operators present on the value-added services market.

• Clarifying relations between operators on the value chain

ARCEP recently adopted a decision—which today received Minister approval—bearing on the obligations imposed on the operators controlling access to the end user for the routing of calls to value-added services. It aims to regulate and clarify the relations between operators and to guarantee better interoperability of value-added services using a number from the national numbering plan. Therefore, it is neutral with respect to contractual relations between operators and consumers. Two types of obligations are planned:

- an obligation imposed on operators present at each end of the value chain (i.e. the "originating" operators and the users of the VAS numbers), to grant reasonable requests for access to value-added services numbers under objective, transparent and non-discriminatory conditions, without prejudice to a cut-off or suspension right in case of fraud or non-respect of the rules of conduct regulating the provision of content

- an obligation imposed on "originating" operators to grant reasonable requests to repay part of the amounts paid to users under objective and non-discriminatory conditions

Under the first of these obligations, and regarding more particularly automatic call-back mechanisms to public pay phones, ARCEP considers that any request to open VAS numbers supporting such mechanisms can be considered to be unreasonable by the originating public pay phone operator.

These obligations concern all operators, both fixed and mobile, irrespective of market power, and constitute "symmetrical" regulation. They are based on articles L. 34-8 III and D. 99-11 of the Post and Electronic Communications Code (CPCE) by virtue of which ARCEP may impose obligations on operators which "control access to end users" in order to "ensure [...] access provided to services on other networks" and "interoperability of services".

ARCEP will launch a second stage of the analysis on the basis of article L. 37-2 of the Code which aims to re-examine the "asymmetrical" obligations specific to France Telecom, whose unique position on the telephony market requires an in-depth re-examination, with regard to the symmetrical regulation currently in force.

• Consumer protection

During the course of public consultations, ARCEP has reviewed on several occasions the importance of making market players more responsible for the nature of the content of VAS.

It explained the fundamental role of the Conseil supérieur de la télématique in dispute settlement, and of the Comité de la télématique anonyme (CST-CTA) in the definition and control of business conduct recommendations, and explained how important it is that these bodies persist and that it is necessary to update the recommendations given the evolution of value-added services.

ARCEP believes that it is urgent to re-launch this business conduct control, as do many players, as expressed in public consultations.

Finally, ARCEP repeats its intention to establish soon an ad hoc working group on the means of improving pricing clarity and transparency to consumers’ benefit, which will include all the players present on the value chain of value-added services (operators, content publishers and consumer associations).

Source: ARCEP, France