Regulatory and public affairs

Delivering value for our members

ECTA

European Competitive Telecoms Association

European Competitive Telecommunications Association

Established 1998

Leading pan-European association representing regulatory and business interests of alternative network operators and pro-competitive equipment manufacturers

Associate members - financial services companies, lawfirms and consultancies

Funded by membership and conference revenue

100+ members include:• fixed and mobile operators

• with Pan-European and/or National footprint

• serving business and/or residential customers

Many of our members are actively investing in Next Generation Networks

Some of our 100+ members

European Competitive Telecommunications Association - Structure

Board of Directors

• 11 Directors see http://www.ectaportal.com/en/basic882.html

• Directors are senior executives or senior legal/regulatory representatives of alternative operators

• Meet quarterly and have monthly calls

Regulatory Forum

• ECTA’s policy making arm

• Body responsible for setting ECTA regulatory strategy

• Meets quarterly

• Made up of Regulatory Affairs reps from ECTA member companies

Regulatory Secretariat in Brussels

• 3 fulltime members plus a regulatory consultant retained

• Carrying out activities as prioritised by Regulatory Forum

UK office responsible for membership, finance and events

• 2 fulltime staff

You cannot afford to ignore Europe

Brussels may seem remote to some, but…• All national telecoms legislation is based on a Framework agreed at

EU level which currently supports competition, but is under review

• The ‘markets’ which regulators examine are based on a list laid down by the European Commission, also now under review

• The European Commission reviews all national market analyses and can veto decisions taken by national regulators

• The European Regulators Group is developing EU-wide positions on the treatment of key issues such as next generation access and VoIP and is establishing ‘best practice’ guidelines on regulation of fixed and mobile markets

The regulation that will impact operator business models in the short and medium term is being set in Europe, NOW…

ECTA is actively influencing this regulation on behalf of its members and has access to latest intelligence

How can we help your business?

Providing valuable information about how telecoms regulation is impacting the European communications sector and affecting operator business models & market opportunities

Promoting the interests of your company in European-level policy making

Helping you meet national objectives through sharing best practice, benchmarking and through escalating your national concerns to the EU institutions

Developing your regulatory knowledge, contacts and effectiveness through information sharing and networking opportunities with industry and Govt

Allowing you to network and share experience with alternative network operator community

Arranging CEO level meetings and delegations of ECTA members with senior officials from EU institutions

What are we currently working on?

The Review of the EU Communications Framework, which applies across Europe

Defining policy on the regulation of ‘next generation’ access and core networks and the interconnection regime for VoIP

Case by case interaction with the Commission on national proposals to regulate broadband, NGA, leased lines, termination and mobile access

Renowned benchmarking reports on national implementation (ECTA Regulatory Scorecard) and on broadband development (ECTA Broadband Scorecard) and regulation

Gathering unparalleled intelligence on the next regulatory challenges to face competitive operators

What is our view?

We support the interests of competitive investors and innovators in the telecoms sector and work for open and liberalised markets across Europe

We believe that ex ante regulation is critical to opening up telecoms markets, whilst ‘ex post’ competition law plays a complementary role, but cannot substitute for firm action by the telecoms regulator

We support the ladder of investment as a means to establish alternative fixed networks – our members invest in infrastructure where economically feasible and rely on access elsewhere to complete their networks

As incumbents upgrade networks to ‘next generation’ access, IP networks, and ethernet interfaces, a key concern for our members is to prevent foreclosure through ensuring that obligations are ‘technologically neutral’, and that there is transparency and consultation over incumbents’ plans

Non-discrimination (or ‘equivalence’) is a crucial principle in the EU Framework. We support stronger enforcement against discrimination including, where appropriate, functional separation of incumbents

We support a consistent approach to calculating fixed and mobile termination rates. In particular, we have concerns over high and discriminatory mobile termination rates charged by established mobile operators. Whilst MTRs could be reduced overall, late entrants in both fixed and mobile markets may have justifiably higher termination costs than incumbents

Fixed mobile converged services should be provided in a competitive environment. That means that regulators should ensure that both fixed and mobile markets are competitive and take action where this is not the case

We support greater flexibility in spectrum allocation and use, including spectrum trading and technological neutrality. Service neutrality should be pursued where technologically feasible. Care is needed to maintain a fair playing field between existing and new players.

Where it is necessary to apply regulation across the sector on social or security grounds, this ‘non-economic’ regulation (eg data retention) should be minimised and applied consistently across Europe

What is our view?

How do we operate?

Regulatory Forum• Quarterly meeting of members to review and agree actions

Working groups• Produce output on key issues (implementation, broadband,

mobile, business services, regulatory economics, e-commerce)

• Political messages/lobbying plan (public policy)

Secretariat• Drive cross-discipline task forces (Framework review, NGN)

• Support and input to working groups

• Co-ordinate scorecards

• Develop regulatory action plan and lobbying strategy

• Represent industry and facilitate lobbying (eg seminars, meetings)

• Regulatory conference agendas and speakers

• Direct support to members for regulatory/lobbying effectiveness

ECTA organisational structure

ECTA Board of Directors

Innocenzo Genna ECTA Chairman

Marcus Benson Director Operations & Business Development

Ilsa Godlovitch Director

Regulatory Affairs

Erzsebet Fitori Regulatory Affairs

Manager

Delphine Bernet-Travert Public Affairs

Manager

Yves Blondeel Technical Regulatory Consultant

Sara Russell Office Manager and Accounts

Brussels Office

London Office

ECTA Membership Value Proposition*

Regular access to regulatory information and intelligence by email

Participation in ECTA’s Regulatory Forum

Participation in ECTA Working Groups and Task Forces

Access to ECTA’s regulatory secretariat’s policy making and lobbying expertise

Promotion of your company’s interests through European level policy making

Gain access to EU policy makers and senior officials from EU institutions

Benefit from networking opportunities including two complimentary conference passes/annum to ECTA’s internationally renowned annual regulatory conference

*Applies to ‘Full’ Membership only

ECTA Offices

ECTA - European Competitive Telecommunications AssociationBelgium Office

Rue de la Presse 41000 Brussels

Belgium

Tel: +32 (0) 2 227 1111Fax: +32 (0) 2 218 3141

UK Office

1a Eastheath House, Eastheath Avenue,Wokingham,

Berks, RG41 2PR

Tel: +44 (0) 118 979 3282Fax: +44 (0) 118 979 3288