Next Generation Networks – What does the Future Hold? Tony Shortall European Commission Information Society & Media Brussels All views expressed are personal and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission

General Setting Policy perspectives i2010 Research Regional Initiatives (State aids) Regulatory Policy SMP process Article 19 Recommendation

Policy perspectives

i2010

Research

Regional Initiatives (State aids)

Regulatory Policy

SMP process

Article 19 Recommendation

Why a Recommendation? Analysis of markets 4/5 by several NRAs and upcoming Art. 7 notifications Need to foster a consistent approach Already significant differences in approach emerging No time to wait for the implementation of the Review

Analysis of markets 4/5 by several NRAs and upcoming Art. 7 notifications

Need to foster a consistent approach

Already significant differences in approach emerging

No time to wait for the implementation of the Review

The envisaged Recommendation Starting point: the ERG opinion Will cover the wide variety of NGA rollout situations Who is rolling out, where, what technology choice No one size fits all approach

Starting point: the ERG opinion

Will cover the wide variety of NGA rollout situations

Who is rolling out, where, what technology choice

No one size fits all approach

Technology Choices ERG CP highlighted technology issues that arise FTTH Unbundling? PON v AON Other forms of Access FTTN Speed of development Maintaining access Potential for access competition Enablers for access competition

ERG CP highlighted technology issues that arise

FTTH

Unbundling? PON v AON

Other forms of Access

FTTN

Speed of development

Maintaining access

Potential for access competition

Enablers for access competition

Basic Issues The Commission's approach to ex-ante regulation has always favoured the promotion of infrastructure competition. Does the change in technology enhance the possibility of infrastructure competition? How can NRAs facilitate such developments?

The Commission's approach to ex-ante regulation has always favoured the promotion of infrastructure competition.

Does the change in technology enhance the possibility of infrastructure competition?

How can NRAs facilitate such developments?

Need to identify the most appropriate incentives for the roll out of high capacity broadband networks Create conditions that support a possible ‘Race to Invest’ (improve efficiency, timing) Do not intervene in ways that would undermine the incentives to make those investments Must not undo existing competition in existing markets

Need to identify the most appropriate incentives for the roll out of high capacity broadband networks

Create conditions that support a possible ‘Race to Invest’ (improve efficiency, timing)

Do not intervene in ways that would undermine the incentives to make those investments

Must not undo existing competition in existing markets

Issues to be considered Information and access to information “ Higher level” access E.g. Access to Ducts Basis for intervention Pricing of access Form of obligations What should be the form of access? Scope of access (3 Criteria test) Specification Scope for co-ordination, role of NRAs in facilitating roll-out of NGA

Information and access to information

“ Higher level” access

E.g. Access to Ducts

Basis for intervention

Pricing of access

Form of obligations

What should be the form of access?

Scope of access (3 Criteria test)

Specification

Scope for co-ordination, role of NRAs in facilitating roll-out of NGA

Other issues Institutional Issues Information gathering Geographic scope of markets Transition, timing issues

Institutional Issues

Information gathering

Geographic scope of markets

Transition, timing issues

Timelines and Process Discussions with ERG Public consultation - two months Communications Committee and oral advisory procedure Parliamentary scrutiny Adoption before end of the year

Discussions with ERG

Public consultation - two months

Communications Committee and oral advisory procedure

Parliamentary scrutiny

Adoption before end of the year

For more information…. http:// ec.europa.eu/ecomm

http:// ec.europa.eu/ecomm

Thank You! [email_address]

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