The electronic communications regulator sees with concern the fact that in Portugal there are no virtual mobile operators (Mobile Virtual Network Operator – MVNO) and admits to creating incentives that encourage its generation.
Ferrari Careto, Anacom administrator, expressed his concern this morning at the mobility conference organized by the Portuguese Communications Association (APDC).
The official considered that the creation of favorable conditions for the emergence of MVNO operations will benefit the functioning of the market.
This position is based on the significant changes in the functioning of the electronic communications market over the past few years. «This evolution of the business is not compatible with a shield in the furniture market» that installed operators can promote to resist the entry of new competitors, considered Ferrari Careto.
Anacom is starting to analyze market 15, one of the 19 relevant markets defined within the scope of the regulatory framework for electronic communications, and which has been left to the end in the assessment process that the regulatory framework intentionally provides for.
The decision was related to the course of the Sonaecom takeover bid for Portugal Telecom, as it is a sensitive issue to the process.
According to the recently published calendar, the market analysis 15 – wholesale market for access and call origination on public mobile telephone networks – will be completed by the end of the year.
Ferrari Careto does not define the various mobile operations that over the past year have arisen as a result of commercial agreements between companies and network operators, or on the initiative of network operators themselves, such as MVNOs.
The official admits that Anacom will define measures to encourage the creation of MVNO operations, in fact.
Anacom believes that the failure to create favorable conditions for the emergence of MVNOs – with or without incentives – could lead to «exclusion situations» for players in electronic communications that do not have a mobile arm.
MVNOs will also have a driving function «of the degree of contestability of the market», defends Careto.
Already with a commercial operation on the market, supported by an agreement with Optimus, The Phone House, considers the definition of regulatory conditions for the business positive and expresses the intention to improve its operation when these exist, said JosĂ© LuĂs Matos, representative of company present at the event.
CTT, which has also expressed interest in the business, reaffirms the will to set up an MVNO operation and considers the existing projects, which were launched by mobile operators, as attempts to shield the market from the entry of new ones. players.
Alberto Pimenta, administrator who represented the group at the event, stressed that the post office intends to take advantage of its distribution network, the strength of the brand and the flow of customers that they manage daily on account of the remaining services provided.
CTT’s entry into this business, however, remains conditional on the creation of favorable regulatory conditions.
The current legislation frames the existence of operations such as Uzo, Rede4, or Talk Talk but makes them depend on the capacity of direct agreement with mobile operators with network infrastructure.
Cristina A. Ferreira
Related News:
2007-02-15 – Anacom defines the framework for the activity of virtual mobile operators
2006-07-10 – The Phone House moves forward with a new mobile brand supported on the Optimus network
