The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM) submits to public consultation the methodology for identifying the points where granting access to the public postal network operated by The National Postal Company (CNPR) is feasible and for  defining the technical and economic conditions associated with the access to the network, services and elements of infrastructure. This public consultation also includes the documentation on the model of costing access to the public postal network of CNPR.

During the first consultation on identifying the conditions under which other postal service providers need access to the public postal network, to the postal services within the scope of the universal service and to the elements of infrastructure of the public postal network, the industry showed interest particularly in access to non-physical elements of infrastructure (postal codes, address database, delivery reports for postal items and existing complaints, if any), but also to certain components of the postal network (work stations and post offices). Potential interest in access to clearance and delivery activities for specific products (e.g. correspondence, parcels) was also shown.

Determining the cost of access

In order to determine the costs of access to the services within the scope of universal service, to the postal network operated by CNPR and to the elements of infrastructure, the data available on the services - and network - related costs were analysed with a view to select- an appropriate methodology for determining such access costs. The analysis focused on the cost orientation method, on the accounting method and on the cost base to be used in determining the costs of the network and of the services within the scope of universal service.

Taking into account the comparative analysis presented and the availability of information, ANCOM considers that the optimal approach for estimating the costs of access to the services within the scope of universal service and to the public postal network, respectively to the elements of infrastructure operated by CNPR, is the top-down fully allocated costs method.

The technical and economic conditions associated to each form of access

For each type of access, the Authority also defined the associated technical and economic conditions, identifying a series of obligations both for CNPR and for the postal operators requesting access.

The public consultation process

The draft methodology for identifying the points where granting access to the public postal network operated by The National Postal Company is feasible and for defining the technical and economic conditions associated with access to the network, services and elements of infrastructure is available, in Romanian, here. The responses to the consultation are welcome until 23.10.2017, at ANCOM’s Registry Office at the following address: 2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3 or to the ANCOM’s regional divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 404 or by e-mail to: consultare@ancom.org.ro.

Background information

The access to the postal network of the universal service provider, to its elements of infrastructure and to the postal services within the scope of universal service are wholesale services that the designated universal service provider may offer - on commercial basis or as a regulatory provision - to other postal service providers that could use such elements of a universal service provider's network/infrastructure to provide their own services. Access as a regulatory remedy can be used to address competition issues or to stimulate competition in the postal sector and to foster effective market development.

ANCOM has designated CNPR as a universal service provider for postal services in Romania, for the period 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2018.