03.09.2018

 

ANCOM’s decision that drives to the withdrawal of obligations imposed on Telekom Romania Communications S.A. in the market of leased lines - terminating segments enabling up to (including) 2Mbps received the European Commission’s endorsement and was published in the Romanian Official Journal, and entered into force on 27 August 2018.

Withdrawal of the obligations in the market

The withdrawal of the obligations imposed on Telekom Romania Communications S.A. followed an analysis showing that there were no providers with significant power in the market of high-quality access services provided at a fixed location, while beneficiaries of the regulated leased line services had access to alternative solutions on the market.

Furthermore, in order to ensure a transitional period, ANCOM’s Decision provides maintaining – until 27 August 2019 – Telekom Romania Communications’ obligations in relation to the current beneficiaries of the regulated leased line services. Telekom Romania Communications’ separate accounting obligation concerning leased line services has been withdrawn starting with the financial year 2018.

High-quality access provided at a fixed location

Wholesale high-quality access provided at a fixed location refers to both leased line - terminating segments services and to any other access services with similar functionality.

Such services play an essential role in the provision of electronic communications services on the retail market (particularly leased line services and VPN services) to medium and large private companies or to public institutions, being also used by some providers to extend coverage in areas beyond their network roll-out.

ANCOM’s Decision

ANCOM President’s Decision no. 686/2018 on identifying the relevant market for high-quality access provided at a fixed location was published in the Romanian Official Journal, Part I, no. 736 of 27 August 2018 and entered into force on the same date. ANCOM President’s Decision no. 686/2018 repealed ANCOM President’s Decision no. 6/2011 on identifying relevant markets for leased line services in the electronic communications sector. Thus, ANCOM President’s Decision no. 15/2011 concerning the obligations imposed on the operator with significant power in the market for leased line-terminating segments enabling up to (including) 2 Mbps is no longer in force, except for ongoing contracts, in which case obligations in relation to the beneficiaries of leased lines are maintained until 27 August 2019.