Tuesday, April 12, 2005, ANRC launched for public consultation, on its website, the Draft Decision of the ANRC President regarding the adoption of the management plan for the frequency spectrum of the local loop and sub-loop.

The Draft Decision aims to extend the provision of broadband communications services by means of the twisted metallic pairs (local loop) of the Romtelecom network. Thus, on the existing infrastructure (the Romtelecom network), the providers of electronic communications services will be able to offer integrated services (voice, data, images) similar to those provided through CATV networks (using cable modems).

The technical measures imposed by the Management Plan lower the interference risk and ensure spectrum compatibility for the services and technologies that use twisted metallic pairs in the same cable. Therefore, the management plan limits interferences and provides, theoretically, a 100% rate of cable occupancy.

Upon the adoption of the Draft Decision, S.C. Romtelecom S.A., having been designated as a provider with significant power in the market for the provision of full or shared unbundled access to the local loop consisting of a twisted metallic pair, will have the obligation to include the Management Plan for the frequency spectrum of the local loop and sub-loop in the reference offer for the unbundled access to the local loop.

The management plan for the frequency spectrum of the local loop and sub-loop has been elaborated with the support of a working group coordinated by ANRC, consisting of representatives of the providers of public networks of electronic communications and of the providers of publicly available electronic communications services, representatives of the producers of electronic communications equipments and representatives of institutions ancillary to this sector.

By the end of 2004, the number of broadband connections in Romania reached 382,783, following a 54.85% increase during the second half of 2004.

The Draft Decision is available for consultation on the ANRC website. All interested persons are invited to send their recommendations and comments until May 12, 2005. Comments and recommendations may also be submitted by mail to the ANRC headquarters: 14 Libertatii Blvd., Sector 5, Bucharest, as well as directly to the ANRC registration office or to the territorial offices of ANRC. Comments may also be sent by fax at: +40 21 307 54 02 or by e-mail at: consultare@anrc.ro.