Rapport om gjennomføringen av det europeiske telekom-markedet pr. 2008
Meddelelse fra Kommisjonen til Europaparlamentet, Rådet, Det europeiske økonomiske og sosiale utvalg og Regionskomiteen: Fremdriftsrapport om det europeiske indre marked for elektronisk kommunikasjon 2008 (14. rapport)
Rapport lagt fram av Kommisjonen 24.3.2009
Nærmere omtale
BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsmeddelelsen, engelsk utgave)
The electronic communications sector in the EU is continuing to bring significant benefits to users and consumers. EU countries are world leaders in broadband take-up, mobile Internet is growing rapidly, prices for most services are continuing to fall and consumers are increasingly availing themselves of bundled services. While the sector is not immune to the current economic crisis, a certain resilience is provided by the relatively strong cash flows due to the essential nature of basic telecoms services, increasingly offered at flat rates, as well as by the relatively low debt levels. Revenues are continuing to grow and in real terms the sector is growing faster than the economy. However, the increasingly challenging environment makes it necessary to adopt a regulatory approach that will enhance predictability and certainty and create a level playing field in the EU's single market.
Despite consumer gains, the full potential of a competitive telecoms market is still impeded by ineffective and inconsistent implementation of regulation. For example, approaches to Next Generation Access (NGA) are fragmented and regulatory methods for setting mobile termination rates remain diverse. A more cohesive approach to such emerging and existing regulatory challenges is needed to improve certainty and give consumers and businesses alike greater opportunities to benefit from a strengthened and more competitive single market. As part of the drive to ensure effective and consistent regulation, the Commission is finalising a Recommendation on the regulatory treatment of fixed and mobile termination rates and preparing a Recommendation on regulated access to NGA networks.
More generally, the Commission's proposals to reform the EU's regulatory framework aim to empower consumers, boost genuine competition and remove structural obstacles which continue to impede the development of the internal market. These proposals are currently under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council.
This Communication reports on developments in the electronic communications sector in
2008.
The electronic communications sector in the EU is continuing to bring significant benefits to users and consumers. EU countries are world leaders in broadband take-up, mobile Internet is growing rapidly, prices for most services are continuing to fall and consumers are increasingly availing themselves of bundled services. While the sector is not immune to the current economic crisis, a certain resilience is provided by the relatively strong cash flows due to the essential nature of basic telecoms services, increasingly offered at flat rates, as well as by the relatively low debt levels. Revenues are continuing to grow and in real terms the sector is growing faster than the economy. However, the increasingly challenging environment makes it necessary to adopt a regulatory approach that will enhance predictability and certainty and create a level playing field in the EU's single market.
Despite consumer gains, the full potential of a competitive telecoms market is still impeded by ineffective and inconsistent implementation of regulation. For example, approaches to Next Generation Access (NGA) are fragmented and regulatory methods for setting mobile termination rates remain diverse. A more cohesive approach to such emerging and existing regulatory challenges is needed to improve certainty and give consumers and businesses alike greater opportunities to benefit from a strengthened and more competitive single market. As part of the drive to ensure effective and consistent regulation, the Commission is finalising a Recommendation on the regulatory treatment of fixed and mobile termination rates and preparing a Recommendation on regulated access to NGA networks.
More generally, the Commission's proposals to reform the EU's regulatory framework aim to empower consumers, boost genuine competition and remove structural obstacles which continue to impede the development of the internal market. These proposals are currently under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council.
This Communication reports on developments in the electronic communications sector in
2008.