IP Convergence: Beyond VoIP, Beyond Cost Savings

Ironically, in the build-up to the publication of these proposals Reding often cited the US market as an example of where there is effective infrastructure-based competition. Strange that she never really bothered (or chose not to) look beyond that to see an effective duopoly...

I am not sure I agree that national regulators would just close down if they are hostile to the idea of the Market Authority. For a start, under these proposals Member States are legally obliged to have an independent national regulator so if there was a non-functioning national regulator, the Member State concerned would probably be taken to the ECJ for failure to comply with EC law. I do agree the Commission has not justified the existence of the Market Authority itself.

Anyway, I don't think it remains to be seen whether the Commission will adopt these proposals. The Commission are extremely keen on them as they mainly involve giving the Commission a great deal more power (rightly or wrongly...). What remains to be seen is the reception of these proposals within the relevant Committees in the European Parliament, particularly Industry Cttee, Economic Affairs Cttee and the Internal Market Cttee. Secondly, the effectiveness of both incumbent and altnet lobbying their national representatives will go some way to determining the view of the Council of Ministers on the proposals - along with the mass of lobbying they'll have received from other interest groups, industry associations and consumer representatives.

I would be interested to hear your views on the Commission itself gaining greater veto power over national regulatory authorities' regulatory remedies and the power to impose remedies. Also, as a global operator, what issues you face in offering pan-European telecoms services in Europe and whether you this review might go any way to rectifying that?