EC Rejects Universal Access Rules for Mobile and Broadband Services—For Now
The EU now has no need for universal service rules covering mobile and broadband services, but someday could, the European Commission (EC) said Tues. Starting its first 3-year review of a 2002 universal service directive, the Commission said customers have widespread and affordable access to mobile technologies, with few using high-speed Internet access. Imposing universal access requirements at this point would harm rather than help them, the Commission said. But emergence of VoIP and other Internet-based services “challenges the current concept of universal service,” leading the Commission to call for an immediate long-term policy debate.
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At least 95% of the European Union (EU) population is covered by mobile networks and in most countries, mobile penetration has outpaced fixed-line, the EC said. Mobile communications already have “reached the stage where they provide services to mass markets at costs that consumers are able and willing to pay,” the EC said, noting that handset prices are down, too. All this shows sufficient competition in provision of mobile services that a universal service rule isn’t necessary, the EC said.
Nor is it relevant on the broadband side. Broadband penetration among the EU25 ranges from less than 1% to almost 16%, the EC said. Regulatory data show only a small, though fast-growing, minority of Europeans using broadband. “As the figure of 6.5% actual take-up… shows, the EU as a whole does not meet the criterion of use of the service by a ‘majority of consumers.'” High- speed access isn’t so necessary for normal participation in society that its absence triggers social exclusion, the EC said, negating the need for universal access requirements.
The communique seeks comment on several longer-term issues: (1) Given consumer’ increasing mobility, should access rules should continue to address only fixed locations? (2) Does widespread access to mobile communications mean public payphones should no longer fall under the universal access directive? (3) How much longer should directory enquiry services be part of the directive’s scope? (4) Should special provisions address users with disabilities?
The European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. said Tues. it supports the EC recommendations not to include broadband and mobile services in the directive. Ewan Sutherland, exec. dir. of the International Telecom Users Group, hadn’t reviewed the document, but said users want the directive to be well enforced and competition maximized, especially in the rollout of broadband services. Comments on the communique are due June 30 -- infso-b1@cec.eu.int.