ECTA, the pan-European trade association representing over 100 pro-competitive telecoms operators welcomes the Italian law liberalizing ancillary services over the former monopolist Telecom Italia’s fixed access network.

Consumers have benefitted from more competition in the telecoms sector since its liberalization, which resulted in lower consumer prices, higher speeds and more innovative offers. The Italian law now takes a step further and requires the liberalization of wholesale activation, maintenance and fault repair services, opening up these services to competition. This measure should bring lower prices and a better quality of services to consumers as a result of increased competition.

These services in Italy are already outsourced to external contractors, but the dominant operator has currently a monopoly in negotiating such deals. It would now be required to allow Alternative Operators to negotiate directly with the same external contractors, likely resulting in lower prices and more efficient performances. Putting an end to a monopoly can only result in more competitive prices and better services ultimately benefitting consumers.

Any initiatives able to achieve a higher degree of liberalization in the sector and the connected benefits - while not threatening the role and competences of national regulators and the control of the EU - should be encouraged.

Federico Poggi

Senior Manager, Public Affairs

ECTA - European Competitive Telecommunications Association

EU Transparency Register n. 24627752238-32

Rue de Trèves 49,

1040 Brussels

Belgium

E-mail: fpoggi@ectaportal.com

Office: +32 2 29 00103

Mob: +32 484 403 455

www.ectaportal.com