3.11.2016

The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has published today, for public consultation, its draft 2017 Action Plan. The pursuit of fostering network competitiveness is the cornerstone of most of ANCOM’s projects in 2017: “the most competitive networks deliver better services and expand more rapidly, in search of new customers” – said Marius Catalin MARINESCU, ANCOM president.

Infrastructure Law no.159/2016

Some of the Authority’s most important 2017 projects are the steps on the effective enforcement of the new infrastructure law - Law 159/2016 -, aimed at reducing the cost of broadband networks rollout in Romania. ANCOM will continue developing the national inventory of public electronic communications networks and associated infrastructure elements, will provide a single point of information and will set maximum tariffs for exercising the right of access on public property.

Regulation of electronic communications services

With a view to increasing the competitiveness of access to communications networks, in 2017 ANCOM will review the relevant markets for the services of broadcasting, in analogue format, public television and radio programmes using signals relayed through terrestrial systems, will review the tariffs for interconnection-related services provided at an interconnection point and establish the standard technical requirements associated with IP-based interconnection, for the provision of the call termination service (VoIP).

More radio spectrum resources for electronic communications

ANCOM will organize a public consultation regarding the awarding of additional spectrum resources for broadband communications in the 450 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz, with a view to enhancing the efficient rollout of networks, given the upsurge in mobile internet consumption. A new auction for awarding national, regional and local digital terrestrial television multiplexes is also scheduled for 2017.

The radio amateur community - as well - will be envisaged by the Authority, who will explore and identify general principles and specific methods to ensure the regulatory and procedural support for managing the radio spectrum in order to uphold the radio amateur activities dedicated to the provision of emergency communications. 

Radio spectrum monitoring and control

Among the monitoring and control campaigns the Authority has proposed to carry out next year, it is worth mentioning a campaign for determining mobile telephony signal coverage of national and county roads, a campaign of verifying compliance obligations by operators that provide prepaid publicly available electronic communications services, as well as a campaign of verifying compliance with the minimum obligations that providers of electronic communications services should incorporate in contracts with the end-users.

Postal services regulation

Regarding the postal service market, the Authority is planning a number of actions that envisage access to CNPR’s public postal network, and the access costs for alternative providers, as well as CNPR’s activity in its capacity as a universal service provider.

The ANCOM action plan for 2017 is available for consultation – in Romanian only – here. The interested persons are invited to send opinions and comments, not later than 02.12.2016, to the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, District 3, Bucharest), directly to the Registry office or through the Authority’s regional divisions. Comments can also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e- mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.