French regulator Arcep has opened a consultation period on the market analysis of three fixed broadband wholesale markets (markets 3a, 3b and 4), as well as on a technical paper outlining proposed changes to the access charges for Orange’s local loop civil engineering infrastructure.
Applying for the 2017-2020 period, the three market analysis draft decisions include new obligations aiming to ease the operational barriers to the deployment of FTTH networks and regulatory measures designed to increase wholesale competition in the B2B market, encouraging the emergence of infrastructure players. The regulator had already outlined its approach to these issues in a document published in January, recommending additional obligations on fixed line incumbent Orange.
Regarding FTTH, Arcep is proposing two specific obligations. The first aims to facilitate the fibre connection between the street cabinet and the building in very high density population areas, where every operator must deploy its own network at street level. The second concerns inter-operator processes for fibre sharing, such as checking eligibility and ordering lines. The regulator is also proposing changes to the procedures used to access Orange’s infrastructure for fibre deployments in the less densely populated areas earmarked for public initiative networks, as part of France’s national broadband strategy.
In the B2B market, new regulatory measures will aim to allow a wholesale market populated by at least three infrastructure players, creating competition to the two existing dominant players – Orange and SFR. Additionally, the changes will facilitate the development of higher quality products on FTTH infrastructure, specifically tailored to meet business needs.
In addition to the market analysis documents, Arcep has also published a consultation on civil engineering charges, covering Orange's copper and fibre local loop infrastructure. In this technical review, the regulator wants to improve the predictability of these charges to make it easier for operators to build their business plans. This consultation closes on 22 March, while responses to the market analysis documents must be submitted by 15 March.
The regulator aims to close the current round of market analysis in the second half of 2017, after consulting the French Competition Authority, submitting the revised draft decisions to a second public consultation and notifying the European Commission on the final decisions.