ANCOM has launched a public consultation for acces conditions in NetCity metropolitan network

ANCOM has published today for public consultation “The project for the calculation model on the cost of access services offered to the providers of public electronic communications networks for access to the physical infrastructure realized within the framework of the Bucharest Metropolitan Fiber Optic Network, Netcity“.

According to documents issued by the Authority, tariffs for NetCity services should become:

– 75.97 euro / km / month for the Tubecity Transport service (from 85 to 120 euro / km / month at present);
– 3.02 euro / pcs. for the Tubecity Connection type A service with a maximum length of 20 meters (from EUR 10 / month at present);
– 10.87 euro / pcs. for the Tubecity Connection type B and especially with a length of more than 20 meters (between 20 and 50 euro / piece currently);
– 8.03 euros for the FTTB Connection rental service (between 10 and 15 euros today).

The majority of telecommunications and Internet service providers grouped in ANISP believe that adopting such regulation is an important step in the right direction, but there is room for optimization, as well.

This regulation has been expected by suppliers since NetCity began (about 10 years ago); a first attempt by ANCOM materialized in the Approval no. DER / 928 / 30.05.2013 (issued according Law 154/2012) was ignored by the addressees of the notice (Bucharest City Hall and NetCity Telecom respectively) – in their opinion the Approval was “indicative”.

The project submitted to the consultation is now following the provisions of art. 47 par. (9) of the Law no. 159/2016 which obliges ANCOM to issue decisions in order to establish and impose on the persons implementing physical infrastructure projects with the participation of local authorities the technical and economic conditions in which the access of the providers of public electronic communications networks.

The high tariffs for access to NetCity so far have led to a reduction in competition in the communications services market (many alternative operators disappearing) and to the slowing down of the industry development in Bucharest.