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19th APDC Congress – Operators again raise doubts about broadband in universal service

19th APDC Congress - Operators again raise doubts about broadband in universal service

(Updated) Even after the executive has introduced into its Government Program the commitment that broadband should be part of the universal communications service, operators and the regulator itself seem not to be convinced of the viability of this design. In a debate dedicated to regulation that took place today at the 19th APDC Congress, several voices raised doubts and warned of problems related to costs.

With the responsibility of those who have regulatory powers over the market, Ferrari Careto, Anacom administrator, admits that the Universal Service dossier is very complex and that the regulator is addressing it in relation to the current situation, which does not include broadband , although it launched a public consultation to understand the market opinion regarding this integration. And it promises a decision in the coming weeks regarding methodology and costs.

Regarding the introduction of broadband in the universal service, Ferrari Careto considers that there is a «symbolic dimension», which links it almost to «a declaration of human rights», but that the practical dimension, how much it costs, must be seriously considered. Without these questions «it is difficult to decide». «It is an important political decision» but it has to be considered, he stresses.

Filipa Carvalho, responsible for regulation at Sonaecom, admits that universal broadband is an excellent political objective, which has been assumed by several European countries, but not always associated with universal service. «There are still many issues to discuss that are an essential condition» to integrate broadband into the universal service, says Filipa Carvalho, stressing the interest of people, which does not always exist, and the issue of costs, which must be evaluated and in function of that define whether broadband should be introduced in the universal service and in all areas or only in some areas.

For this person in charge of Sonaecom, it is also necessary to validate the extent to which the integration of broadband distorts competition. «The assignment of the service to an incumbent [como acontece actualmente com o serviço universal] it can pervert the results for the consumer «, he warns, also asking» who says that the competition cannot satisfy this need for those who are interested? «.

In the same line of ideas, Carlos Correia, from Vodafone, defines as positive the fact that the universal service can have a vision of technological neutrality, not being dependent on the copper network, which allows other operators to make their contribution, lowering costs, eliminating elements that are anachronistic, such as paper telephone directories, or even public payphones, and reintroduces the possibility of a regionalized vision for the provision of these services.

«Regarding broadband, generally we would all say yes, but are we willing to pay?», He asks, especially when there are customers who do not want and do not need the service, and if there are cheaper ways to get it to whoever wants it , admits Vodafone’s regulator.

On the sidelines of the congress, at the end of the day, Zeinal Bava, president of Portugal Telecom, also defended that it is «a great decision» to include broadband in the universal service, although he underlines the importance of the conditions under which this will happen, namely the compensations that will be attributed to whoever provides the service.

Editorial Note: The news was updated with a statement by the President of PT on the subject.