Telecom sector market analyses update (2019)

The main development since our last update of the ex ante regulation of the telecom sector in the Netherlands is the imposition of obligations in the Market Analysis Decision on Wholesale Fixed Access (“WFA”). In that decision, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (“ACM”) identified a risk of joint Significant Market Power of KPN and VodafoneZiggo on the WFA market (previously known as Unbundled Local Loop and Wholesale Broadband Access). For that reason, ACM considered it appropriate to impose access obligations not only on KPN but also on VodafoneZiggo. The cable network is therefore regulated once again (since the annulment of the 2009 Broadcasting Decision).

The Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (“CBb”) furthermore ruled in 2018 on the appeals filed against the market analysis decisions (“MAD”) regarding ODF-Access Fibre to the Office (“FttO), fixed and mobile terminating access (“FTA-MTA V”) and fixed telephony (“FT”).

A summary of the previous regulation period is provided in the table below.

PREVIOUS REGULATION PERIOD
Market Obligations imposed CBb ruling Comments

MAD on ULL

(17.12.2015)

MDF and VULA access:

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency and reference offer

- Tariff regulation

ODF access (FttH):

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency

- Tariff regulation
CBb ruling of 17 July 2017:
ACM decision upheld
Not applicable

MAD on FttO

(29.12.2011)

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency

- Tariff (DCF)

CBb ruling of 18 December 2013: (entirely) annulled Not applicable

MAD on LKWBT

(27.04.2012)

No regulation

CBb ruling of 15 January 2014: ACM decision upheld

Not applicable

MAD on FT

(01.05.2012)

Single:

- Access

- ND

- Transparency

Dual and multiple:

- Access

- ND

- Transparency

- Tariff regulation (Safety Cap/EDC)

CBb ruling of 18 September 2014: partially annulled

Not applicable

Rectification of MAD on FT

(18.03.2015)
Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable

MAD on FTA-MTA IV

(05.08.2013)

- Tariff regulation

CBb ruling of 13 January 2015: preliminary questions

ECJ judgment in response to preliminary questions

CBb final ruling of 10 July 2017: ACM was entitled to base tariff regulation on Pure BULRIC method

 

Outlook

Partly due to CBb’s decision not to regulate FttO and to annul the Market Analysis Decision on FT, the scope of ex ante regulation in the Dutch telecom sector has decreased further. Only FTA-MTA, WFA and high-quality wholesale broadband are currently subject to ex ante regulation.

In 2019, the new draft decision on Wholesale High Quality Access (“WHQA”) at a fixed location will have to be awaited. ACM recently started consulting market parties. ACM withdrew its earlier draft market analysis from 2017 after objections from the European Commission.

The CBb’s ruling in the appeal proceedings against the Market Analysis Decision on WFA is expected later this year..

CURRENT REGULATION PERIOD
Market Obligations imposed CBb ruling Comments

MAD on WFA

(27.09.2018)

(Limited) MDF access, ODF access FttH and VULA via copper and fibre connections:

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency, reference offer and migration offer

- Tariff regulation (MDF access: safety caps + WPC/EDC; ODF access FttH: DCF; and VULA: line tariffs + additional costs of VULA (EDC)).

WBT by cable via National Head-End:

- Transmission of digital TV channels and coding of specific channel on request

- Access to CAS

- Access to DOCSIS channels

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency, reference offer and migration offer

- Tariff regulation (top-down method)

Appeal pending Not applicable

MAD on FT

(23.02.2017)

Single: no wholesale or retail regulation

Multiple: no regulation

No retail regulation

Dual:

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Ban on tariff regulation

- Non-discrimination and ND5

- Transparency and reference offer

- Tariff regulation (safety cap for CPS and WLR)

CBb ruling of 6 November 2018:
ACM decision entirely annulled
Legal implications in effect up to and until 31 March 2019

MAD on FttO

(01.09.2016)
Non-regulated CBb ruling of 19 June 2018: ACM decision upheld Not applicable

MAD on HQWBA/HL

(28.12.2012)

- Access

- Non-discrimination

- Transparency

- Tariff regulation (EDC)

CBb ruling of 3 September 2015: partial annulment, near-net obligation abolished

CBb ruling of 19 January 2017: partial annulment of amendment decree: tariff regulation of FttH services abolished

Not applicable

Draft MAD on WHQA

(withdrawn)

Copper regulated:

- Access

- Non-discrimination en ND5

- Transparency obligation and publication of reference offer

-Tariff regulation
Not applicable Market survey pending after Commission misgivings

MAD on MTA/FTA V

(01.06.2017)

- Access

- Tariff (Pure BULRIC)

- Transparency and obligation for KPN to disclose reference offer

CBb ruling in preliminary proceedings: preliminary relief disallowed

CBb ruling of 11 September 2018: (apart for change in text) ACM decision upheld
Not applicable

 

This blog has been co-written by Mr B. Braeken (who, as of 15 July 2019, no longer works at Maverick Advocaten).

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