The European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti has criticised
deliberate delays by local telecos in Europe in opening up local
loop access to competition, describing the matter as a priority for
the EU. The Commission is currently investigating local loop
access.
Speaking yesterday in Barcelona, Mr Monti said:
“The local loop is the infra structure which
delivers traditional telephone calls but also internet
communications. Competition is essential because we do not want the
development of the information society to take place under a de
facto monopolistic regime”.
"In spite of an active supervision by
national regulatory agencies, telecom incumbents are delaying as
much as they can the delivery of unbundled lines, which is
extremely slow, or proposing non-competitive access conditions and
procedures. This is a serious matter of concern since they are at
the same time taking advantage of their control of the local loop
to roll out their new ADSL broadband services”.
The full results of the Commission’s enquiry are expected by the
end of this year.
