In this section, a summary is presented of the actions developed by ICP-ANACOM with respect to cooperation at national level, with particular focus on the work done in the analysis of restrictive competition practices and on issues of technical standardization, as well as the accomplishment of the switch off of analogue television.
- Autoridade da Concorrência (AdC) (Competition Authority)
Over the course of 2011, ICP-ANACOM responded to several requests from AdC:
- on July 29, ICP-ANACOM's opinion was sought, pursuant to paragraph 1 of article 29 of Law no. 18/2003 on the opening by AdC of an investigation into administrative offences, focusing on restrictive practices allegedly committed by TMN, Optimus and Vodafone in the context of the "tribal" or "youth" tariffs (opinion given on 12 September 2011);
- by notice dated 4 November, AdC informed ICP-ANACOM of a complaint brought by TVI - Televisão Independente, S.A. (TVI) against PT Comunicações, S.A. (PTC) in respect of the wholesale supply of DTT broadcasting services and television broadcasting via terrestrial analogue networks. After deciding to open an investigation (PRC-14/2011), AdC sought ICP-ANACOM's position, as the regulatory authority for the communications sector, on the facts of the complaint, pursuant to and for the purposes of article 29 of Law no. 18/2003 of 11/06 (Lei da Concorrência - Competition Act) (response given by notice of 22 December 2011);
- on 10 December, ICP-ANACOM's opinion was sought, under paragraph 1 of article 39 of Law no. 18/2003 of 11 June, on prior notification of a concentration operation consisting of the acquisition by Caisse des Dépots et Consignations and by the French State of joint control of La Poste, S.A. (Opinion delivered on 25 February 2012);
- on 21 December, ICP-ANACOM's opinion was sought, under paragraph 1 of article 39 of Law no. 18/2003 of 11 June, on the prior notification of a concentration operation consisting of the acquisition by ZON TV Cabo Portugal, S.A., of the residential customer base of Ar Telecom - Acessos e Redes de Telecomunicações S.A. (Opinion delivered on 3 January 2012).
- Entidade Reguladora da Comunicação (Media Regulatory Authority)
In February 2011 an opinion was requested on the draft decision on the specification of transport and delivery obligations in respect of specific television services and other services complementary thereto (opinion delivered on 14 March).
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Instituto Português de Qualidade (IPQ) (Portuguese Quality Institute)
Activity of Sector Standardisation Body (ONS)/ICP-ANACOM during 2011
In 2011, the activity developed within the ONS/ICP-ANACOM for telecommunications, postal activity and electromagnetic compatibility, comprised about 220 consultations, distributed by theme as according to the following graph:
Graph 60. Consultation with technical committees in 2011
Source: ICP-ANACOM.
These consultations have origin in the standardisation bodies of ETSI, CEI, CEN and CENELEC, and saw participation by the national electro-technical committees1:
- CTE 46 - cables, wires and wave guides for telecommunication equipment;
- CTE 210 - electromagnetic compatibility;
- CTE 215 - electro-technical aspects of telecommunications equipment;
- CTE 209 - cable networks for television signals, radio signals and interactive services.
In the consultation on the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the human environment (CEMAH), on the postal activity and equipment for consumer entertainment and information, interest groups are consulted in the absence of formally constituted national technical committees.
- Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (GAM-TD) (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group)
ICP-ANACOM organised four plenary meetings of the GAM-TD, as created by Resolution of Council of Ministers no. 26/2009 and which includes representatives of stakeholders most directly involved in the analogue-digital transition process. The Group was set up to assist ICP-ANACOM in promoting the conditions necessary for the accomplishment of this process. ICP-ANACOM produced four quarterly progress reports to monitor the analogue-digital transition process, based on information compiled through the GAM-TD, from data submitted to this Authority by the main agents and from evidence gathered directly from entities that process statistical or market information.
1 Information on the scope and constitution of the national technical committees, in terms of members, is available in the standardisation area of ANACOM's website.
