TELECOMMUNICATIONS : COMMISSION TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO WHOLESALE BROADBAND MARKET.

• Position: Brief article

The European Commission proposes to change the definition of telecoms markets that can be regulated at national level. In a draft recommendation on "relevant markets" in the telecoms sector, published on 24 January(1), it removes wholesale retail markets for fixed telephony and ratifies the competitive state of the market.

These amendments take into account the problems concerning bitstream access for "virtual" operators (those who do not have a proper network) before end users. The amendments, however, leave it up to national regulators to analyse whether this "local loop" network is open enough for broadband on their territory.

This "recommendation" is expected to be re-examined by various other stakeholders before being approved by the Body of European Regulators for Electronic...