ANACOM decided on 24 October 2007 to launch a public consultation on the draft decision on the specification of the price control obligation in respect of the wholesale market for voice call termination in individual mobile networks (market 16).
No reduction has been seen in termination tariffs since 1 October 2006, which is to the detriment of other operators and consumers. Accordingly, the consultation document that has now been approved, and which includes comments by Autoridade da Concorrência (the Competition Authority), is based on the understanding that a new downward movement should be determined in the corresponding termination prices, within the scope of the price control obligation. This is without prejudice to the force of the decision of 25 February 2005 on the definition of relevant markets, significant market power (SMP) evaluation and enforcement of obligations in the wholesale voice call termination in individual mobile networks market.
In the present draft decision ANACOM sets the maximum prices for voice call termination in mobile networks that may be applied as of January 2008 by the three mobile operators, which were notified in due time in respect of their positions of SMP. The prices set by the decision are based on a moderate and transitory asymmetry reflecting the differentiated costs of the operator with the smallest market share. Meanwhile, the final decision to be approved will be revised by the end of 2008, taking into account that granting the operator Optimus such an asymmetry constitutes a transient measure, given that prices should normally be symmetric.
This determination is subject to a prior hearing of interested parties and to the general consultation procedure, set at 30 working days. Any comments should therefore be submitted no later than 10 December 2007 and should preferably be sent by e-mail to precos_terminacao@anacom.pt. Once the consultation process has been completed, the responses received will be published on this website - therefore any items considered confidential should be clearly marked as such.
In the meantime, the draft decision will be notified to the European Commission and to the national regulatory authorities (NRA) of the other Member States, in line with the legally established specific consultation procedure.
Consult:
- Voice call termination in individual mobile networks - market 16 (consultation) https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=531998
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Market 16 - Voice call termination in individual mobile networks https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=152609
