Press Releases

Internet and Telephone Services Adapted for Disabled Users

17.11.2014

 

Today, the Romanian National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANCOM) has submitted to public consultation a set of measures intended to ensure the disabled persons’ access to telephony and internet access services adapted to their specific needs and in conditions equivalent to those available for most users. 

The draft ANCOM decision provides that end-users with sight, speech and/or hearing disabilities will be able to benefit from internet and telephony offers with included consumption units optimised for their special needs. For example, according to the draft decision, the providers will make available to the users with speech and/or hearing disabilities mobile service bundles including at least unlimited on-net SMS and 150 national SMS for maximum EUR 4/ month (VAT included), as well as monthly mobile internet traffic of at least 300 MB, at a maximum download speed of at least 2 Mbps, for maximum EUR 2/ month (VAT included).
Moreover, mobile communications providers will offer the end-users with sight disabilities mobile communications bundles containing at least 300 national minutes for maximum EUR 2/ month (VAT included), whereas the fixed communications providers – bundles including at least 350 minutes/month for maximum EUR 3/ month (VAT included). Furthermore, due to the specific functions of the terminals available on the market, they will have the possibility to use internet access services by means of packages that include, for mobile services, monthly mobile internet traffic of at least 300 MB, at a maximum download speed of at least 2 Mbps, for maximum EUR 2/ month (VAT included), and – for access services provided at fixed locations - unlimited fixed internet traffic for maximum EUR 7/ month (VAT included).
Disabled telecom users will have the possibility to register in a database set up by the providers with a view to benefitting from additional benefits, such as access to customer relations service via SMS for the users with hearing disabilities, or the possibility to interrogate the cost control service by means of an audio message, for the users with sight disabilities.
As well, the electronic communications providers will have to ensure the disabled users – by means of their working points where subscription-based services are offered - the possibility to test the services and devices they intend to buy, free of charge, as well as to make available a special section containing information for disabled users, accessible from the main page of their website.
ANCOM initiated the draft decision under public consultation upon finding that the offers of the communications providers, though diversified as regards the tariff plans, do not fully satisfy the specific needs of the disabled users. For example, mobile telephony users with speech or hearing disabilities use mostly SMS and mobile internet, the voice minutes included in the tariff bundles being useless for them.
In Romania, according to the data provided by the General  Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Protection and Aged Persons - General Directorate for the Protection of Disabled Persons, as of 30 June 2014 there were 714,891 disabled persons (adults and children).
The draft decision on establishing measures for the disabled end-users of publicly available electronic communications services is available here. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions, by 17.12.2014, to the ANCOM headquarters in 2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3, directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or by means of the Authority’s regional offices. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40.372.845.402 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.
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