Oftel has today confirmed the general conditions that operators will need to meet from 25 July in order to provide electronic communications networks and services.
The conditions set out the minimum requirements that communications providers must meet, including providing reliable network services and negotiating interconnection arrangements with other network operators.
The general conditions replace the obligations contained in current telecoms licences, which will be revoked on 25 July under the new European framework for communications regulation.
The conditions will be backed by strong and effective enforcement powers if companies breach the conditions.
David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today:
"The publication of these general conditions is an important final milestone in Oftel’s work to introduce an entirely new framework for communications regulation under the EC Communications Directives.
"The general conditions provide a more streamlined and flexible regime for current and new operators and service providers, and a sound basis for future regulation of communications network and service providers by Oftel and later, Ofcom.
"I welcome the fact that consumer protection remains at the heart of the new conditions, backed by strong and effective enforcement powers."
Notes to editors
1. The final statement setting out The General Conditions of Entitlement is available
on the Oftel website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/licensing/2003/cond0703.htm.
Hard copies are available to the media from the Press Office on 020 7634 8991
and to the public from the Research and Information Unit on 020 7634 8761.
Previous publications on the general conditions are available at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/licensing/2002/enti0502.htm
and www.communicationsbill.gov.uk/pdf/Implementation_Con_Doc_AnnexB.pdf.
2. Under the new regulatory regime that comes into force on 25 July 2003, conditions
in licences are to be replaced by a combination of general conditions applicable
to all communications providers and specific conditions to be set and applied
to specific communications providers, for example where they have significant
market power or have universal service obligations. Further information on the
implementation of the new regulatory framework can be found on Oftel's website
at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/eu_directives/index.htm.
3. It is intended that the new Communications Act will implement the new Directives,
but because the Communications Bill is currently progressing through the parliamentary
process it is not certain whether that will be complete by 25 July. To ensure
that there is no gap in regulation, statutory instruments have been drafted by
the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure the implementation of the new Directives
for any period between 25 July 2003 and the entry into force of the new Communications
Act. These can be found on the Communications Bill website at www.communicationsbill.gov.uk/Interim_Implementation_revised.htm.
4. Oftel also published draft continuation notices earlier this month to continue
existing regulatory obligations on telecoms companies with market power until
the introduction of regulation under the new EC Directives following completion
of the current programme of market reviews. The document, Continuing licence conditions
after 25 July, is available on the Oftel website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/licensing/2003/cont0703.htm.
