Aanbeveling 2013/466 - Consistente verplichtingen tot non-discriminatie en kostenmethodologieën om de concurrentie te bevorderen en investeringen in breedband aantrekkelijker te maken - Hoofdinhoud

Boosting competition and encouraging investment in next-generation access electronic communications networks

The aim of this recommendation is to improve the regulatory conditions needed to promote effective competition and to encourage investments in next-generation access (NGA) networks.

ACT

Commission Recommendation of 11 September 2013 on consistent non-discrimination obligations and costing methodologies to promote competition and enhance the broadband investment environment (2013/466/EU)

SUMMARY

This recommendation aims to give a boost to competition and investment in high-speed next-generation access (NGA) electronic communications networks. It seeks to promote competition by applying tougher non-discrimination rules and to promote investment by allowing for flexibility in the pricing of new wholesale NGA services while ensuring stable wholesale copper access prices.

The recommendation applies to the markets for wholesale network infrastructure access and for wholesale broadband access.

The overall aim is to encourage innovation and increase productivity, levels of employment and economic growth. It will also enable Europeans to enjoy new and innovative high-quality services.

The background to this is that the European Commission is seeking to develop the EU’s internal market for electronic communications networks and services in particular through the roll-out of high-speed Internet networks. This will be done by encouraging quicker investment in NGA infrastructure.

One of the broadband (i.e. faster Internet) targets in the digital agenda for Europe, which is part of the Europe 2020 strategy, is for there to be NGAs (30 Mbps or more) for all by 2020.

The recommendation was accompanied by a proposed law that aims to move further towards a European single market for electronic communications.

Putting the right regulatory environment in place will contribute to the development of a dynamic and competitive market. It must provide the right balance of risk and reward for those prepared to invest.

One of the aims of the recommendation is to provide long-term stability in copper access prices, as well as to ensure that those seeking access to copper have equal access to the incumbent operators’ networks through tougher non-discrimination rules. This will ensure a level playing field between incumbent operators (who are typically big telephone operators that were put in place by national governments a long time ago) and other companies seeking to compete in the broadband markets.

REFERENCES

REFERRED DOCUMENTS

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down measures concerning the European single market for electronic communications and to achieve a connected continent and amending Directives 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC and 2002/22/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1211/2009 and (EU) No 531/2012 (COM(2013) 627 final of 11.9.2013 - not published in the Official Journal).

Last updated: 22.04.2014

Deze samenvatting is overgenomen van EUR-Lex.