Today, the 20th of December 2018, a Consultative Council meeting was held at ANCOM headquarters, focusing on the draft decision on the regulation of access conditions in Netcity infrastructure.

There was a survey of the industry’s observations and the latest arguments were heard before the decision itself will be published (first part of January 2019).

The main tariffs will become:

a) 73.16 euro / km / month for the main tube rental service;

b) 0.224 euro / meter / month for connection tube (”racord”);

c) 0.277 euro / meter / month for the FTTB branch service;

d) EUR 11.43 / hour for the attendant service (business hours);

e) 17.15 euro / hour for the attendant service (outside business hours);

f) 526 euro / course / participant for the installer certification service.

As a significant change from the original project, it is noted that the connection tubes (”racorduri”) are to be billed proportionally with their effective length. Thus, for an average length of 28 meters (announced by some ANISP members), the monthly tariff for a connection tube shall be EUR 6.27 (instead of EUR 20 currently).

The ANISP community considers this project an important step forward in normalizing the access to infrastructure on the territory of Bucharest.

On December 4, 2018 ALEF Distribution, provider of equipment, solutions and training, specialized in Cisco, NetApp, Meraki, active and leader in several Eastern European markets in the field of distribution, data infrastructures, IT security & voice communications became a valued ANISP member.

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.

Today, on September 12, 2018, the conference “Challenges of NETCITY: Stage II comes with over 2,000 km, but also with customers’ opposition” – in the organization of ANISP and InterLAN.

The event was attended by numerous providers of electronic communications services, members of the two associations, who argued that Netcity should be developed in a properly regulated framework.

At present, the development of the underground communications infrastructure project does not comply with the provisions of the ANCOM Approval issued 2013, obliging the telecom operators to pay arbitrarily imposed exaggerated tariffs – which seriously affects the competitive environment in Bucharest, the negative effects finally being felt by end users – subscribers of Internet / telephony / television services.

The operators community appeals to local authorities to allow further development of the project either with respect to the Approval of the 2013 Regulatory Authority (ANCOM) or to wait a new Decision – which is mandatory under Law 159/2016 – to be issued by ANCOM in the immediate time frame.

Operators also require ANCOM to issue and enforce as soon as possible the Decision provided for in Article 47, paragraph 9 – of the Physical Infrastructure Rules of the Electronic Communications Network Law (159/2016), taking into account all the arguments presented during public consultations.

The National Association of Internet Service Providers in Romania (ANISP) and the InterLAN Association organize a conference on the following themes:

Challenges of NETCITY: Stage II comes with over 2,000 km, but also with the opposition of the network’s customers at the city hall’s decision.

Date and Time: 12.Sep.2018, 10:00
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, Merope Hall
Speakers: Bogdan Cojocaru (Ministre – MCSI), Eduard Lovin (VP-ANCOM), Nicolae Stoean (Technical Manager PMB), Catalin Cuturela (ANISP President), Tiberiu Gîndu (CEO – ANISP), Eric Andrei Băleanu InterLAN Association), Marian Bumbar (General Council, PMB), Dorin Odiaţiu (Public Affairs – Orange Romania), Dan Georgescu (President – AOTR)

Moderator: Ion Vaciu (Director – Mobile Communications Magazine)

Stage II for the expansion of the NETCITY metropolitan network, with over 2,000 kms, puts the interests of Bucharest City Hall as a Concessioning party and those of the owner of NETCITY, Direct One (concessionaire) against with those of Internet Service Providers which are NETCITY customers, as stated by ANISP and InterLAN officials.

PMB (Bucharest City Hall) approved in mid-July 2018 the technical and economic indicators related to the feasibility study Stage II on NETCITY investments, ignoring the views of ANISP and InterLAN operators.

ANISP and InterLAN support the Netcity project, which will be implemented throughout Bucharest, as it is a much better solution (technically) and much more elegant (urbanistic) than the aerial lines. However, ANISP’s wish is that this development should be done in the light of the ANCOM Approval of May 30, 2013, and not under the conditions established by NetCity’s unilateral interpretation of the Concession Contract concluded with the PMB in 2008. Alternatively, ANISP considers, one should expect ANCOM to develop the new commercial conditions, according to the law 159/2016, stipulated in the Authority’s calendar for 2018. It is underlined that the large telecoms and internet operators present on the Romanian market have a similar position with ANISP and so does InterLAN, too.

Guests:
MCSI, ANCOM, Competition Council, Bucharest City Hall, AOTR, AOMR, AFOR

ANISP (members): Euroweb Romania, GTS Telecom, Rolink Plus SA, Media SAT, ICI – RoTLD, Prime Telecom SRL, SN Radiocomunications SA, iNES, Telekom Romania Communications, Digital Cable Systems, Special Telecommunications, Allnet Telecom SRL, Combridge, NextGen Communications, DotRo Telecom, Direct One SA, ROL Online Network, Distinct New Media, ITC, Chroot Network, M247 Europe, Infinity Telecom, TVSat 2002, Starnet Media Communications.

Interlan (members): Allnet Telecom, Almsoft Computers, Ambra, Bensoft Telecom, Bestnet Service, Canal S, CNetwork, Cobranet, Computer Wired, Communications Starnet Media, Conect Intercom, Data ZYX, Digital Construction Network, Dynamic Connection, Dynamic Distribution, Efx Invest, Energy Dot, Fidelnet, GMB Computers, Impuls Conect, Internet Oltenia, Massive Telecom, Metropolitan Interlink, Millennium IT, Net Gate Communications, Phoenix Telecom & Media Services, , Softkit, Speed ​​Network, Teen Telecom, Teleplus, Tennet Telecom, Tier, Top Telecom and Viva Telecom.

Documentary resources
1. Announcement of 2013: http://www.ancom.org.ro/legea-infrastructurii_4982
2. http://www.ancom.org.ro/ancom-emite-avizul-pentru-reteau-metropolitana-de-fibra-optica-a-municipiului-bucuresti-pentru-telecomunicatii-netcity_4983
3. ANCOM 2018 Calendar: http://www.ancom.org.ro/formdata-269-49-346
4. Law 159/2016 (Article 47 paragraph 9!): Https://lege5.ro/Gratuit/gezdinruga3q/legea-nr-159-2016-privind-regimul-infrastructurii-fizice-a-retelelor-de-informatiilor communications-electronics-such-and-for-determining-of-steps-for-reducing-cost-of-installation-network-communication-el
5. HCGMB (Decision of the Bucharest City Council) through which PMB decides to extend the Netcity network by more than 2,000 km by 2021: http://www4.pmb.ro/wwwt/institutions/CGMB/sedinte/ordinea_de_zi/db/13_20180726.pdf

Monday, April 16, 2018, starting at 10:00, the General Assembly of ANISP members was held.

Representatives of 20 members participated in the meeting as follows: Euroweb, GTS Telecom, Rolink Plus, ICI RoTLD, Media SAT, Prime Telecom, Radiocommunications, iNES Group, Teletrans, Special Telecommunication Service, Allnet Telecom, Combridge, NextGen Communications, DOTRO Telecom, Direct One, Distinct New Media, ROL Portal Services, ITC, Chroot Network and M247 Europe. There missed representatives of 8 members. Being present more than half of the members, the meeting was statutory.

Within the General Assembly, the topics on the agenda were discussed, as follows:

1. Activity report for 2017

2. Budget execution report for 2017

3. Discharge of the Board of Directors

4. Election of a new president

5. Election of a new Board of Directors

6. Approval of guidelines for ANISP activity in 2018

7. Approval of the Association’s Budget for 2018

8. Organizational and administrative issues

Within the General Assembly, ANISP’s governing bodies were elected (according to the Bylaws the elections take place every 2 years; the previous elections took place on 14.04.2016).

By direct vote, Mr. Cătălin Cuturela (Ines Group S.R.L.) was elected President, and the new Board of Directors, voted in block, had the following composition (in order of joining the association):

1. Euroweb Romania S.A. – Adrian Popa
2. Rolink Plus S.A. – Alexandru Rotaru
3. S.N. Radiocommunications S.A. – Stefan Molinaru
4. Teletrans S.A. – Dan Bordea
5. Allnet Telecom S.R.L. – Iulian Ţenea
6. Combridge S.R.L. – Cristian Zainea
7. NextGen Communications S.R.L. – Catalin Tudorache
8. DotRo Telecom S.R.L. – Alexandru Balan
9. Chroot Network S.R.L. – Bogdan Rotariu
10. M247 Europe S.R.L. – Alin Ştefănescu
The General Assembly also adopted a series of statutory decisions on the organization and management of the association (appointment of the censor, organization chart and register of members).