August 2017: Highlights and Activities

International Meetings attended by MCA representatives

BEREC Regulatory Framework Expert Working Group
An MCA official attended a meeting of the Expert Working Group discussing the review of the Electronic Communications Framework. During the meeting, the latest updates from the European Parliament and Council Working Party were discussed while taking into consideration how the different positions would impact the European and domestic regulatory environment and the sector in general.

BEREC Net Neutrality Expert Working Group Meeting
As part of its work in overseeing the implementation of the rules related to net neutrality, the MCA follows closely the working groups at BEREC on the same subject. An MCA representative attended the latest expert working group meeting held in Brussels on the 23^rd August 2017.  Various topics particularly related to Quality of Service in the context of Net Neutrality were discussed during the meeting.  Additionally, the EWG provides a platform where best practice from different member states related to various aspects of the EU Net Neutrality Regulation is discussed and shared.

MCA Publications & Website Uploads

MCA’s reaction to media reports on worldwide test of broadband speeds
Published On: Aug 8th 2017

International News

REGULATION

Advanced Television     MPs call for poor broadband service compensation
The British Infrastructure Group of MPs (BIG) has called for UK Government to introduce legislation setting the terms for a broadband Universal Service Obligation, and for communications regulator Ofcom to consider fixed broadband speeds in a new system of automatic compensation [read more].

Ofcom WLA Market Review: Consultation on pricing proposals for Duct and Pole Access remedies
This consultation follows our Strategic Review of Digital Communications; and Ofcom’s ‘Consultation on Duct and Pole Access remedies’ (“April 2017 DPA Consultation”) published in April 2017 as part of Ofcom’s wholesale local access (WLA) market review [read more].

Ofcom The Communications Market: Bite size
The communications market plays a crucial role in the lives of consumers, and the fast-paced nature of the market means this role is ever-changing [read more].

Cullen International       “Universal broadband” - AGCOM proposes the adoption of 2 Mbps
AGCOM, the Italian national regulatory authority, published a proposal on August 2, 2017 to introduce a broadband universal service obligation (USO), giving every home and business in Italy the right to request a connection of 2Mbps [read more – subscription required].

Total Telecom   Ofcom proposes higher wholesale rates to cover cost of BT's universal service rollout
Ofcom suggested allowing BT to raise its wholesale broadband prices to cover the cost of its recently-proposed plan to build new networks in underserved parts of the UK [read more].

Cullen International       Italian consumer protection authority fines Wind Tre €500,000 for unfair contract withdrawal fees
The competition and consumer protection authority, AGCM, has fined Wind Tre €500,000 for charging unfair fees to consumers who wanted to terminate their contract following the unilateral introduction of a shorter retail billing cycle of 28 days instead of one calendar month [read more – subscription required].

Ofcom  KCOM fined £900,000 for emergency-call failure
Ofcom has fined KCOM £900,000, after uncovering a serious weakness in the telecoms company’s emergency-call service [read more].

Cullen International       Italian consumer protection authority fines TIM further €300,000 for unfair contract withdrawal fees
The Italian competition and consumer protection authority, AGCM, has fined Telecom Italia (TIM) further €300,000 for continuing to charge unfair fees to consumers who wanted to terminate their contract following the unilateral introduction of a shorter retail billing cycle of 28 days instead of one calendar month [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       Online video streaming platforms - Dutch competition authority finds no competition problems
A report published by the Dutch national competition authority (ACM) on online video platforms such as Facebook, Netflix, Vimeo and YouTube does not find “any indications for anticompetitive risks” in the online video streaming and advertising markets [read more – subscription required].

SPECTRUM

Policy Tracker    UK regulator considering licence-exempt access at 26GHz
The UK regulator said that where it is possible to demonstrate that uncoordinated small cells can be deployed without affecting quality of service, it will consider allowing licence exempt operation in the 26GHz band and supports licence exempt in the 37-43.5GHz and 66-71GHz range [read more –subscription required].

Total Telecom   3UK still mulling legal challenge to Ofcom 5G spectrum rules
3UK chief Dave Dyson said the operator has yet to decide whether to mount a legal challenge to regulator Ofcom's 5G spectrum rules, but suggested that such a move would not prove too disruptive to the U.K.'s 5G ambitions [read more].

Policy Tracker    US join the EU in opening 76-81GHz for car radar
Long-range vehicular radars (LRRs) have been deployed in the US pursuant to a 1995 decision to make the 76-77GHz band available for car radar on an unlicensed basis, the FCC's 13 July order said. Since then, the car radar industry has developed short-range radars (SRRs) that support applications such as blind spot detection, lane-change assist and detection of pedestrians [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    UK operator denies challenge to auction rules will delay 5G rollout
A Three spokesperson said on 9 August that the regulator had been notified of the company's decision. "We anticipate a short process and a court decision by early 2018," the spokesperson said. "Ofcom does not expect commercial 5G services in the UK before 2020, so this short process will not impact the availability of 5G to UK consumers" [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Vodafone wins 5G city trial rights for Milan
Fastweb and Huawei will collaborate with Telecom Italia on the Bari and Matera trials, while OpenFibre will work with Wind on the Prato and L’Aquila trials [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    FCC consults on mid-band spectrum for next-generation services
The Federal Communications Commission launched its inquiry on expanding flexible use in mid-band spectrum between 3.7 and 24 GHz on 3 August, driven in part, it said, by the growing interest in these bands elsewhere in the world [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    UK operator demands major changes to 5G spectrum auction
In a communication outlining the operator’s intention to pursue legal action over Ofcom’s decision to place a 37% spectrum cap on operators’ future holdings, BT/EE chief executive Gavin Patterson asked Ofcom chief executive Sharon White to change the current auction plan so that 3.4-3.8GHz could be auctioned at the same time [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Ukraine’s regulator decides on LTE spectrum prices ahead of awards
“The NKRZI believes that, by the end of this year, Ukraine is likely to initiate tenders in the 2600MHz and 1800MHz bands to issue 4G licences,” the regulator said in a statement [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Ukraine’s regulator decides on LTE spectrum prices ahead of awards
“The NKRZI believes that, by the end of this year, Ukraine is likely to initiate tenders in the 2600MHz and 1800MHz bands to issue 4G licences,” the regulator said in a statement [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Council of the EU drops 25-year licences from ECC proposal
The Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU has asked member states to submit alternative proposals. The Radio Spectrum Policy Group is also being proposed as an opinion-giving body on national spectrum awards. The debate on 25-year licences is not over, however [read more – subscription required].

INTERNET

Total Telecom   BT makes £600m pitch for universal broadband coverage
BT offered to spend up to £600 million to connect 99% of UK premises to at least 10Mbps broadband by 2020. If accepted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), BT's proposal would negate the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which was introduced under the Digital Economy Act (DEA), and gives consumers the right to request at least 10-Mbps broadband [read more].

TELEVISION

Advanced Television     Disney to launch streaming service
In a move that will eventually see it end its distribution agreement with Netflix, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire majority ownership of direct-to-consumer streaming technology and marketing services, data analytics, and commerce management specialist BAMTech, announcing plans to launch its ESPN-branded multi-sport video streaming service in early 2018, followed by a new Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service in 2019 [read more].

Advanced Television     Telefónica plans ‘Netflix for Europe’
Reports in Spanish newspaper El Pais say Telefónica is planning to launch a streaming video platform with its own original content in Europe to compete against Netflix [read more].

POST

Post and Parcel       Ofcom Communications Market Report: Letter volumes down but people still value postal service
In its latest Communications Market Report the UK regulator Ofcom has noted that although the total addressed letters volumes fell by 4% between 2015 and 2016 to 11.8bn items, nearly nine in ten people (88%) said that they value the option to be able to use the postal service [read more].

Cullen International       Who should pay for postal market regulation and consumer protection?
Ofcom, the UK postal regulator, is consulting on changes to broaden the scope for defining who contributes to the costs of regulating postal markets and for consumer protection in the sector [read more - subscription required].

Post and Parcel         Poste Italiane reports increase in revenues and operating profits
Poste Italiane has reported an increase in both revenues and profits for the first half (H1) of 2017, with consolidated revenues up 2% to €18bn and operating profits up 0.5% to €847m [read more].

CEP Research     PostNL delivers parcels by appointment
PostNL is continuing to broaden its range of parcel services with the launch of ‘Delivery by appointment’ giving consumers more control over deliveries [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Aramex Chatbot handles customer queries on Facebook Messenger
Aramex has launched an artificially intelligent Chatbot on Facebook Messenger named "Aramex Bot" which enables personalised, scalable conversations with customers about shipment-related queries and different service offerings [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     USPS delivers strong parcel growth and wants to hike mail prices
The US Postal Service is continuing to see strong growth in its low-margin parcels business thanks to e-commerce volumes and wants to increase mail prices to combat the letters volume decline [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Pošta Slovenije opens first state-of-the-art PS 24/7 outdoor self-service post office unit
Pošta Slovenije has opened its first state-of-the-art outdoor self-service post office unit, called the PS 24/7, at the Rudnik shopping centre in Ljubljana [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Swiss Post to adjust parcel prices and abolish customs inspection fee in 2018
Swiss Post has announced the end of customs inspection fees and revised parcel prices for 2018 [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     NZ Post kills off next-day priority mail deliveries
New Zealand Post will stop making next-day priority mail deliveries next January, possibly also slowing international deliveries as a result, in its latest service change to cope with tumbling letter volumes [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       Terminal dues and the sustainability of the postal universal service
Universal service providers (USPs) in Europe face significant challenges in today’s postal market, with falling letter volumes, regulatory restrictions on their operational flexibility, and the difficulties of introducing necessary process changes [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       ComReg proposes regulatory strategy for difficult times
The Irish postal market will face strong challenges, caused by a continuing decline in mail volumes, necessitating regulatory action to ensure the sustainability of the postal universal service (US). These actions may include a review of the US scope and an analysis of the need to designate the universal service provider (USP) [read more – subscription required].

Post & Parcel     Royal Mail exceeds Quality of Service targets
Royal Mail’s Quality of Service report for the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year 2017-2018 has shown that the UK postal operator exceeded its regulatory First Class mail target of 93%, delivering 93.3% of this mail by the next working day [read more].

CEP Research     Global parcel volumes rise 48% since 2014, Pitney Bowes report finds
Worldwide parcel volumes have grown by 48% in the last three years, and are likely to continuing growing at strong double-digit rates over the next five years, according to Pitney Bowes’s in-depth second annual Parcel Shipping Index [read more – subscription required].