Oftel Promotes Importance Of Regulation
Posted: 13th Mar, 2003 By: MarkJ
The UK telecoms regulator, Oftel, has today touted the importance of firm regulation for fixed line and Internet access services.
The press release states that regulation continues to be necessary in order to promote and protect competition. Despite this a growing number view Oftel as a toothless industry monitor:
Whether it is basic voice services, or new data based ones such as Internet access, regulation is needed to allow companies to compete fairly in the market place and police anti-competitive behaviour, he added.
And competition is essential to give consumers the greatest possible choice, innovative services and put downward pressure on prices, he said.
David Edmonds was speaking at a conference on regulation organised by the Adam Smith Institute. He said: "Competition in the telecoms market does not happen by itself. Firm regulatory intervention is necessary, whether to help companies to enter a market and compete or to take action against anti-competitive behaviour.
Oftel supported the development of competition in voice services by introducing cost based interconnection with BTs network for competing operators.
More recently, we have taken action to support competition in the new electronic communications, resulting in some of the lowest prices for dial up Internet access in Europe, and broadband connection rates of 30,000 a week.
Where markets are competitive, Oftel will always seek to withdraw regulation that is no longer necessary. In the future, convergence and spectrum trading will offer increased network competition, with the potential to reduce regulation."
David Edmonds said that Oftel always considered what was in the best long term interest of consumers when deciding the need for regulatory action.
Oftel - an industry saviour or failure? Let us know your thoughts.
The press release states that regulation continues to be necessary in order to promote and protect competition. Despite this a growing number view Oftel as a toothless industry monitor:
Whether it is basic voice services, or new data based ones such as Internet access, regulation is needed to allow companies to compete fairly in the market place and police anti-competitive behaviour, he added.
And competition is essential to give consumers the greatest possible choice, innovative services and put downward pressure on prices, he said.
David Edmonds was speaking at a conference on regulation organised by the Adam Smith Institute. He said: "Competition in the telecoms market does not happen by itself. Firm regulatory intervention is necessary, whether to help companies to enter a market and compete or to take action against anti-competitive behaviour.
Oftel supported the development of competition in voice services by introducing cost based interconnection with BTs network for competing operators.
More recently, we have taken action to support competition in the new electronic communications, resulting in some of the lowest prices for dial up Internet access in Europe, and broadband connection rates of 30,000 a week.
Where markets are competitive, Oftel will always seek to withdraw regulation that is no longer necessary. In the future, convergence and spectrum trading will offer increased network competition, with the potential to reduce regulation."
David Edmonds said that Oftel always considered what was in the best long term interest of consumers when deciding the need for regulatory action.
Oftel - an industry saviour or failure? Let us know your thoughts.
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