The following ICP-ANACOM areas of intervention were considered for network and service provision: fixed voice interconnection, mobile voice interconnection, internet access, leased lines, fixed telephone service and fixed telephone networks, unbundled local loop, land mobile service (quality gauging), 3rd generation mobile service (UMTS), numbering, portability and pre-selection, and selection and analysis of indicators.
Fixed voice interconnection
With the aim of promoting sufficient interconnection between operators, the maximum interconnection prices to be in force from 1 May 2002 were set; it was determined that PT Comunicações, as the entity with significant market power, should introduce other relevant modifications in its 2002 reference interconnection offer (RIO).With the aim of ensuring timely definition of the rules for 2003, the corresponding RIO update was also determined, stressing the need for lower interconnection prices.
Mobile voice interconnection
Fulfilling the goal, among others, of bringing interconnection prices into line with prices practiced in the European Union and to proceed with their gradual adjustment, ICP-ANACOM set the maximum prices to be in effect in 2002 for the termination of fixed-mobile calls, the termination of international calls in the mobile network and the origination of calls in the mobile network, as well as maximum prices for national termination of mobile-mobile calls. Reassessment of the prices to apply in 2003 was also envisaged.
Internet access
Keeping in mind that in 2001 internet access traffic switched from a model of revenue-sharing between the direct access operator and the internet access providers (ISPs) to an interconnection model based on a system of origination payments, ICP-ANACOM determined in 2002 the introduction of modifications to PT Comunicações?s reference internet access offer (RIAO).
Leased lines
As in previous years, and after having heard the Directorate General of Trade and Competition (DGCC ? Direcção Geral do Comércio e da Concorrência), ICP-ANACOM in 2002 again declared PT Comunicações to be an entity with significant market power (SMP) in the leased lines market. During the respective monitoring, quality levels were set for the service provided by PT Comunicações and conclusions were approved of the two independent audits ? one on quality indicators and the other on the cost accounting system for PT Comunicações leased lines, the first for the years 1999 and 2000, and the second for the year 2000.
ICP-ANACOM also determined in 2002 that the PT Comunicações leased lines offer should be reformulated. Later, after rejecting a first tariff proposal on grounds of incompatibility with the orientation to costs principle, a decision was made not to oppose the entrance into force of the leased lines tariff offer presented by PT Comunicações in December 2002, which led to a notable drop in the net prices covered by the company.
Fixed telephone service and fixed telephone networks
After hearing the opinion of the Directorate General of Trade and Competition (DGCC), ICP-ANACOM in 2002 again declared PT Comunicações to be an entity with significant market power (SMP) in the market for fixed telephone networks and/or fixed telephone service. Conclusions of the independent audit of the PT Comunicações cost accounting system for the year 2000 were also approved; it was declared to be in conformity, despite recommendations for the improvement of it.
Other relevant ICP-ANACOM decisions in 2002 applicable to land mobile service operators concern PT Comunicações?s reformulation of the applicable prices for so-called ?green numbers? and ?blue numbers?, to assure correct alignment with the orientation to costs principle, as well as voice mail service, about which a decision was made to extend to all telecommunication service operators and providers that provide same the obligation to guarantee, after the respective message begins, a period of not less than five seconds without any cost for the user-caller.
Local loop access unbundling
The PT Comunicações Reference Unbundling Offer (RUO) was in 2002 subject to modifications in order to adapt it to market developments, specifically by changing prices in light of the orientation to costs principle, and to conditions associated with information access provision, as well as to set compensations resulting from non-compliance with the time limits governing provision requests.
To assure the viability of other licensed operators? access to PT Comunicações exchanges with their own infrastructure, on an economically efficient and reasonable basis, ICP-ANACOM likewise approved the collocation conditions to adopt in the RUO context.
Land mobile service ? gauging of quality
In 2002, for the third consecutive year, a study on the gauging of the GSM mobile networks? service quality was carried out by ICP-ANACOM, covering mainland Portugal and the autonomous island regions. Coverage, accessibility and audio quality were studied; the three mobile operators and the Portuguese Consumer Defence Organisation (DECO) took part in defining the test methodology. The study?s conclusions were released publicly and indicate a high degree of coverage and generic performance, placing the national GSM mobile networks at a level equal to or above their European counterparts.
In December 2002 ICP-ANACOM carried out another study gauging the service quality of GSM mobile networks, covering only the cities of Lisbon and Oporto and the A1 motorway; the resulting figures were considered to be very good.
3rd generation mobile services (UMTS)
Taking into account the delays in operational start-up associated to licences for international mobile telecommunications systems (IMT2000/UMTS), the fourth licensed operator OniWay?s process of starting operations in 2002 required intense monitoring and intervention by the regulator to assure compliance with the applicable rules, specifically regarding interconnection with the other mobile operators. In this ambit ICP-ANACOM rejected the request to assign DCS1800 frequencies to OniWay and decided that the roaming agreement signed in the meanwhile by TMN and OniWay should specifically include the use, even if experimental, of 3rd generation terminal equipment and network items, within the scope of conditions set in the UMTS tender. Various determinations followed, related to the network interconnection dispute in which OniWay opposed OPTIMUS and VODAFONE TELECEL, culminating with the filing of countermanding actions against VODAFONE TELECEL and OPTIMUS for not providing interconnection to OniWay within the respective time limit.
By determination of the shareholder structure and at the company?s request, OniWay?s licence was later revoked by order of the Minister of the Economy, on the basis of an ICP-ANACOM opinion.
Numbering, portability and pre-selection
In the context of numbering management, 720,000 numbers were assigned to fixed telephone service in 2002, 110,000 numbers to non-geographic services (?800?, ?808? ranges, etc.) and 100 numbers to Internet access services.
Operator portability in the mobile telephone network was introduced on 1 January 2002, completing a process begun on 30 June 2001 when that function was introduced in the fixed network. Recourse to portability has increased substantially, with total numbers ported rising to 68,141 in the year 2002, of which 61,976 pertained to fixed telephone service, 6,026 to land mobile service and 139 to non-geographic numbers.
The criteria and rules for the allocation and use of numbering resources, along with the applicable conditions for the pre-selection function, merited constant monitoring in 2002 with the aim of preparing related market consultations to be launched in 2003. Regarding ENUM (Telephone Number Mapping), results of a June 2002 workshop will lead to the launch of a specific public consultation in 2003.
Selection and analysis of indicators
Statistical indicators for land mobile service, fixed telephone service, cable distribution networks, data transmission and Internet access services, and audiotext services were analysed and released quarterly over the course of 2002.
The process of defining various new statistical indicators related to the communications sector also began. They are to be furnished by the fixed telephone service providers, including specific information on pre-selection, by the land mobile service operators and by the operators of public telecommunications networks.