ECTA report on current European telecom regulation

ECTA report on current European telecom regulation

The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) analyzed how competitive and open to new entrants various markets are. They found that prices are still too high and former state-owned monopolies still too dominant in many markets. The U.K., followed by Denmark, have the best-performing regulators, the report said. They have kept the country's former state-owned monopoly in check, and preferential treatment has not been given by the local regulator. In contrast, Germany and Greece are singled out as Europe's worst regulators. The report said DT has been over protected by the German regulator, largely keeping control of the infrastructure and charging new entrants exorbitant fees for using it.

ECTA conclusion is that countries with an independent regulator, a good appeals system, and effective economic regulation are seeing higher investment levels. In the U.K., telecom companies are investing $184 per capita, more than twice Germany's $68 per capita.