The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) has released the 2007 Regulatory Scorecard report, which compares the regulatory environment and application of the current regulatory framework for electronic communications in nineteen European countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Sweden.
The report, published on 28 November 2007, shows Portugal's ranking rising to 8th place, over Spain, Hungary and Ireland; in the 2006 report Portugal occupied 10th place out of 17 countries, with Norway being covered for the first time this year and ranking above Portugal.
The report highlights the fact that the powers and independence of National Regulatory Authorities have in many cases been restricted and their ability to enforce rules under the EU Telecoms Framework has been compromised.
This year's results illustrate that the ability of the regulator to tackle competitive problems can have immediate and tangible consequences for consumers - affecting the price of telecom services, as well as affecting longer term investment in the sector. The report finds that, in particular, in countries where regulators have enforced access to the incumbents' local loop to open broadband markets to competition, broadband prices are typically the lowest and the broadband speeds the fastest. Meanwhile, functional separation is cited as being a tool that could be used to support the increase of competition in the electronic communication markets, with benefits for consumers.
The ECTA 2007 Regulatory Scorecard also finds that regulators are failing to keep up with the new issues raised by the sector's evolution and the implementation of new technologies - especially with regard to networks. This situation could have negative implications for competition in the communications sector. The report also considers that, in the context of the current review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications, the powers of the national regulators need to be strengthened and it supports a greater role for the European Regulators Group (ERG) and, if necessary, the creation of a regulatory authority at this level, but with a mandate that does not supersede or replace the experience of the national regulators.
This year's report is based on the responses given to ECTA's recent questionnaire, including responses given by ANACOM. The questionnaire covered a range of issues, such as the institutional framework, the general conditions governing market access and the regulatory and competition conditions with respect to the fixed and mobile telephone and broadband markets.
Consult:
- Regulatory Scorecard 2007, ECTA, November 2007 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=540341
Further information:
- Telecoms watchdogs lack powers to fight monopolies, study finds http://www.ectaportal.com/en/upload/File/Regulatory%20Scorecards/2007/2007_Regulatory_Scorecard_press_release_final.pdf
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Electronic communications - regulatory framework https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=60209
- ECTA - Update to 2007 report https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=564626
