09.08.2018

 

ANCOM has launched for public consultation a draft decision setting the harmonised technical conditions and the tariffs of IP interconnection-related services for fixed and mobile call termination on the public telephony networks.

ANCOM deemed regulatory intervention in the field of IP interconnection appropriate in order to ensure equal opportunities for all the market players, given that alternative providers of fixed telephony services holding IP networks encounter the refusal of large operators as regards access to IP-based interconnection, who raise and maintain barriers to market entry.

Scope of regulation

IP interconnection obligations will be applicable to the 36 fixed telephony providers and to the 5 mobile telephony providers identified in 2017 as having significant power on the fixed call termination market, respectively on the mobile call termination market. The list of providers within the scope of the proposed regulatory measures is available, in Romanian, here.

IP interconnection obligations

By 1 March 2019 at the latest, the 36 fixed telephony providers and the 5 mobile telephony providers will have published on their websites, information on the conditions in which they offer such interconnection services.

Furthermore, starting from 1 May 2019, they will have to allow access to and use of specific network elements and associated facilities and to apply equivalent interconnection conditions, under equivalent circumstances, to all the entities that request or have been benefitting from interconnection.

Moreover, with a view to facilitating the enforcement of the regulatory measure, the Authority also proposes tariffs for IP interconnection-related services, following a European benchmarking analysis and the review of the costing models previously used by ANCOM in respect of certain interconnection-related services.

Identifying technical requirements for IP interconnection

With a view to collecting and analysing the data needed to identify the harmonised national technical requirements applicable to future IP interconnections, the Authority established a joint working group together with representatives of the electronic communications industry and specialists in modern IP technologies, and considered the views of 20 fixed and mobile telephony operators that were typical for the market.

Public consultation

ANCOM’s Draft measures for identifying and regulating the harmonised technical conditions for IP interconnection with a view to providing fixed and mobile call termination services on public telephony networks and for regulating the tariffs corresponding to IP interconnection-related services is available for consultation, in Romanian, here. The interested persons are invited to submit their comments and suggestions, by 10.09.2018, at the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3), directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or by means of the ANCOM regional divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.

According to the European regulatory framework in the field, after the national consultation, ANCOM is to notify the European Commission, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the other national regulatory authorities in the European Union member states on the proposed measures. The European Commission, BEREC and the other regulatory authorities will be able to send their comments and suggestions to ANCOM throughout one month since the notification date. Taking due account of the comments sent by the European bodies, ANCOM may adopt the measures.