View the Agenda and Presentations.

On the 23rd of October 2009, the 8th Regulatory Brainstorming Session took place in Nicosia, Cyprus. Following the tradition of 4 years since October 2005, the Heads of SEE NRAs met once again to exchange views and discuss national developments with regards to next generation broadband networks and the implications for the Regulators. The meeting in Nicosia was kindly hosted by the Telecoms Regulator in Cyprus, the Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation – OCECPR at Hilton Hotel and was honoured by the presence of 6 NRAs from the region including Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Takas INA President, and opened with a welcome address by the hosting NRA, OCECPR, given by the Commissioner, Dr. Michaelides, who pointed out that the Cyprus Regulator recognises the importance of such opportunities for exchange of views on issues of common interest among peers and discussed the developments regarding broadband take-up in Cyprus. Mr. Takas, thanked the OCECPR for hosting the event and joining the tradition of the SEE Regulatory Brainstorming Sessions. Mr. Takas stressed that in the rapidly changing telecoms-media environment the Regulators are requested to play a vital role in the provision of the next generation regulatory environment that will ensure competition, boost investments and protect consumer interests. Mr. Takas pointed out that 3 issues should be addressed when it comes to developing national strategies for next generation broadband networks that include stimulating demand - consumer interest, facilitating infrastructure deployments – stimulating investment through the proper choice of business models and setting a stable and forward looking Regulatory framework.

The meeting was honoured by the presence of the new President of the Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission - EETT, Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, who addressed the participants with a brief reference on the particular plans of the Greek Regulatory Authority regarding Next Generation Nationwide networks development. Dr. Kanellos mentioned the plans of the Greek Government to co-finance a PPP project to develop an FTTH network that will connect 2 million homes in Greece and stressed the role of EETT in providing the Regulatory framework for this market development. EETT and the Greek state are primarily concerned with avoiding the creation of a new monopoly in the country and are set on taking all measures to ensure that a new Digital divide will not be born inside the country or with other EU states. Dr. Kanellos also mentioned EETT’s efforts and plans concerning the Spectrum Re-farming process that should take place taking consideration new market developments. Dr. Kanellos, closed by pointing out EETT’s interest in developing the institutional contacts with the Regulators of the region, where many of the Greek operators are highly active, and thanked INA Academy and the OCECPR for working together to provide this opportunity to the SEE NRA’s.

The meeting was continued by a series of presentations concerning national developments and views on the strategies being developed regionally on next generation broadband networks. The first presentation was given by Mr. Sven Gschweitl, representing the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications - RTR/TKK, entitled ‘ICT in Austria - creating the framework for a knowledge-based society’. Mr. Gschweitl explained the ‘Austrian miracle’ regarding broadband development in the country and gave insight on the clear vision of the government to make Austria a European leader in broadband. He explained the coordinated efforts in 2003 for infrastructure development, the ICT Master plan in 2005 and the priorities on boosting the use of ICT in 2008, pointing out the importance of the strong political commitment and long term strategies that made the effort possible for Austria.

Dr. Stelios Himonas, of the Department of Electronic Communications in the Ministry of Communications and Works of Cyprus addressed the meeting with a presentation of the ‘National Strategy for Information Society’. Dr. Himonas explained the details of the efforts that the Cypriot government has taken and the recent attention that has been placed on the development of broadband connectivity in the country. Dr. Himonas explained that the efforts are still at a starting point and the Strategy document is under preparation, but action is taken to achieve 100% broadband coverage, removing Cyprus from the last position in EU ranks on speed, prices and availability. He explained in detail about projects that have taken place or are still ongoing for the development of the information society and described the efforts for providing connectivity to 151 remote communities in Cyprus through satellite and potentially through an FTTC network, a project of 7.5 mln EUR subsidy submitted for EC approval.

Mr. Pavle Mijuskovic on behalf of the Mr. Zoran Sekulic, Exec. Director of the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services of Montenegro – EKIP presented ‘The Broadband Strategy of Montenegro’. Mr. Mijuskovic explained that the government has not yet drafted a broadband strategy document, but it is in the country’s immediate plans. In the meantime, he explained that the development of broadband is developing according to 3 strategic documents, the electronic Communications strategy 2006-2016 and the 2 documents of the Information Society Strategy for 2004-2006 and 2007-2013, respectively. Mr. Mijuskovic gave evidence of broadband market developments in the country and mentioned EKIPs plans in developing the market further.

In continuation of the meeting, Dr. Neophytos Papadopoulos, Director of the Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation of Cyprus – OCECPR, presented a very interesting study undertaken by the regulator of Cyprus by the title of ‘Increasing Broadband Penetration: A market approach for sustainability’. Although the study is not yet officially concluded, Dr. Papadopoulos was able to disclose to the participants a novel research method that was applied in the telecoms environment in the country to prove the validity of a market concept that has been used in other sectors to characterise consumer behaviour, but never in the telecoms sector. The study proceeded to test the validity of the ‘Principle of Relative Constancy’ with very interesting results for Cyprus and potential applications in the SEE region. Dr. Papadopoulos confirmed that the results of the study will soon be made available by the OCECPR.

Dr. Milan Jankovic, Executive Director, Republic Telecommunication Agency of Serbia – RATEL presented the ‘Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of Broadband Access in the Republic of Serbia until year 2012’, which was approved by the Parliament exactly one week before the meeting, on Friday 17 October. Dr. Jankovic explained that the current situation in Serbia hinders broadband take-up because of high prices and limited connectivity in a market dominated by a single fixed national operator and several local or regional cable operators. He noted that the new tender process for a second national fixed operator has just been opened and it is expected that this development will seriously enhance competition in the market for the benefit of the consumers. The new operator is aspired to have acquired the license by January 2010. Dr. Jankovic described the goal of the newly adopted Strategy Goal to enable conditions for achieving broadband penetration of at least 20% (or 1,200,000 subscribers) by year 2012 with bit rates not lower than 4 Mb/s for fixed networks and 512 kb/s for mobile networks.

Dr. Despina Anastasiadou, Director, SouthEastern Europe Telecommunications & Informatics Research Institute – INA made a presentation entitled’ Developing Next Generation National Broadband Networks - Lessons Learnt & Challenges Ahead’, discussing the changes in the telecoms environment that call for immediate, forward looking action on behalf of European states and their Regulators. Dr. Anastasiadou explained the supply and demand drivers that are putting pressure on the existing copper networks and pushing the development of next generation networks (i.e FTTx) and proceeded to point out the challenges that need to be addressed both by operators and Regulators in the telecoms-media converging environment. Dr. Anastasiadou stressed the importance of selecting the correct business model for the development of nationwide broadband networks between Industry-led, Government-led and PPP (public private partnerships) models, depending on the particular case and situation in each country and proceeded to present international examples of countries that are NG broadband leaders such as Japan, Korea, Sweden, Singapore, USA, etc. The presentation was aimed at stimulating discussion on good practice and strategic views that may be applicable in the SEE region.

Finally, Mr. Fikret Kasumagic, Director of the Telecommunications Sector of the Communication Regulatory Agency of Bosnia-Herzegovina – CRA addressed the participants with a brief discussion of the situation in broadband development in his country. Mr. Kasumagic explained that the state is proceeding with the goals of the Strategic document for the development of the Information Society 2007-2013, since there is not at this time a Broadband Strategy document. The process of drafting this strategic document is still in the planning phase but remains a future goal for the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Before concluding the meeting, Mr. Panagiotis Karaminas, the Director of Telecommunications Division of EETT in Greece presented to the participants the ‘Broadband Characteristics Measurements Node’, a novel application that EETT developed in collaboration with GRnet, Planet Lab Consortium (PLC) and Measurement Lab Partnership (M-Lab). The application was developed to address the need for measuring broadband characteristics in connections offered by ISPs in the country since the existing regulatory framework does not require ISPs to guarantee minimum Quality of Service and, consequently, consumers are not currently protected when such problems arise. The method employed by EETT used verified Web-based measurements tools, allowing end-users to test their connection, and permitting the Regulator to periodically collect and investigate the measurement data. Mr. Karaminas stressed that consumer acceptance of the application was very high even in its first week of operation and very positive feedback has been received from the press and online discussion Forums. Mr. Karaminas discussed EETT’s future plans to further enhance its services for the benefit of the consumers and prompted the SEE NRAs to contact him for details and additional information.

After brief discussion between NRA representatives the meeting was concluded by the chair, Mr. Takas, who also proposed that the next meeting, the 9th SEE Regulatory Brainstorming Session takes place in Skopje as kindly proposed by the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEC) of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The proposal was gladly accepted by all participants, who pledged to meet again in a few months to discuss regulatory developments in the region.

INA Academy, who is actively supporting the development of new technological advancements in the region, provides significant opportunities to NRAs for the development of their human resources through the delivery of highly-customized workshops and other specialized services that support their activities. The SEE Regulatory Brainstorming Sessions take place biannually, hosted by a different NRA in the SEE region each time.

Time

  Content of the Sessions

10:30

  Dr. Polys Michaelides, Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Electronic
  Communications and Postal Regulation of Cyprus - OCECPR Welcome

10:35

  Dr. Vassili N. Takas, President, SouthEastern Europe Telecommunications &
  Informatics Research Institute - INA Welcome

10:40

  Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, President, Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission
  (EETT) - Opening Address

10:45

  Mr. Sven Gschweitl, Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and
  Telecommunications, RTR/TKK
  Presentation: ICT in Austria - creating the framework for a knowledge
  -based society

11:00

  Dr Stelios Himonas, Department of Electronic Communications, Ministry of
   Communications and Works of Cyprus
  Presentation: National Strategy for Information Society

11:15

  Mr. Zoran Sekulic, Executive Director, Agency for Electronic Communications and
   Postal Services of Montenegro, EKIP
  Presentation: The Broadband Strategy of Montenegro

11:30

  Dr. Neophytos Papadopoulos, Director, Office of the Commissioner of Electronic
  Communications and Postal Regulation of Cyprus, OCECPR
  Presentation: Increasing Broadband Penetration: A market approach for
  sustainability (This presentation will be made available soon)

11:45

  Dr Milan Jankovic, Executive Director, Republic Telecommunication Agency of Serbia,
  RATEL
  Presentation: The Broadband Strategy of Serbia

12:00

  Dr. Despina Anastasiadou, Director, SouthEastern Europe Telecommunications
  & Informatics Research Institute, INA
  Presentation: Developing Next Generation National Broadband Networks
  - Lessons Learnt & Challenges Ahead

12:15

  Dr. Panagioths Karaminas, Director of Telecoms Division, Hellenic
  Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT)
  Presentation: A tool for measuring broadband line characteristics

12:25

  Roundtable discussion Coordinator: Dr. Despina Anastasiadou, Director,
  SouthEastern Europe Telecommunications & Informatics Research Institute – INA

12:55

  Conclusions, date and venue of the next meeting

13:00

  Lunch