20.11.2008

”Following the completion of a new market survey, ANC proposes to impose the cost-orientation obligation on all five mobile telephony operators, and, respectively, the obligation to reduce the interconnection tariffs charged by Cosmote, Telemobil and RCS&RDS, while allowing them to apply a gradual adjustment glidepath so as not to affect their business plan”, Liviu Nistoran, the President of ANC, declared.

Starting 1 January 2009, the maximum interconnection tariffs charged by Orange and Vodafone will decrease to 5.03 Eurocents, which is the cost level established by the calculation model elaborated during 2004-2006. As regards Cosmote and Telemobil, the decisions launched for public consultation today propose these operators should charge a maximum interconnection tariff of 6.4 Eurocents, starting 1 February 2009, respectively of 5.67 Eurocents, starting 1 January 2010.

The abovementioned draft decisions identify all the five mobile telephony operators with significant power on the market of call termination on their own networks and impose on them the obligation to provide interconnection services under transparent, non-discriminatory conditions and at regulated tariffs.

In the future, ANC intends to establish symmetrical tariffs for fixed call termination services, for all the mobile telephony operators, based on the costs of a hypothetic efficient operator. The symmetrical tariffs will be set out based on a calculation model to be elaborated during 2009-2010. In the establishment of such tariffs, the Authority will also consider the influence of certain factors beyond the operators’ control, such as the differences between the spectrum resources allotted.

 “We can estimate that these remedies will trigger, in the next three years, the decrease of the mobile telephony invoice by 25-30%. These measures balance the Romanian telecom market by reducing the obstacle represented by the interconnection tariff. The consumer triangle – i.e. the decision on the decrease of the interconnection tariffs, the portability and the decision on enhancing user awareness – guarantees that, from 2009, we will benefit from better services at lower tariffs”, the President of ANC added.

The draft decisions are available for consultation on the ANC website. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions to the ANC headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, sector 3, Bucharest) or directly to the ANC registration office, as well as to its territorial branches, no later than 2.12.2008. Comments may be sent, as well, by fax, to +40 372 845 402, or by e-mail to consultare@anrcti.ro.