10.11.2009
“In Romania, the total number of subscribers to subscription-based services of audio-visual programme retransmission increased, in the first half of 2009, to 5.72 million, from 5.64 million at the end of 2008. Among these, 3.42 million used these services by means of the cable networks”, Catalin Marinescu, the ANCOM President, declared today at the 14th edition of the Cable Communications Convention.
According to the preliminary data collected by ANCOM from the providers of audiovisual programme retransmission services, the penetration rate at the household level registered a slight growth, from 77.1% at the end of 2008, to 78.1% on 30 June 2009. While the penetration rate of DTH services witnesses constant growth, the penetration rate of retransmission services provided via cable networks keeps decreasing, as from 2008.
The total number of active providers continues the downward trend, from 523 at the end of 2008, to 498 in the first half of 2009. Preliminary data indicate that this decrease is due to the smaller number of cable television providers compared to 2008, the number of the providers of such services via satellite networks and via IP technology remaining constant.
At the end of June 2009, approximately 2.6 million subscribers received audiovisual programmes in digital format. Most of these, i.e. more than 2.3 million, used DTH systems. Thus, approximately 90% of the 2.6 million subscribers receive these programmes via satellite networks, while the number of subscribers who receive these services via cable networks in digital format is increasing.
”The preliminary data available reveal that, today, the cable industry must face the great challenge represented by the competition of DTH-based offers, and one of the counteracting solutions is the continuous modernisation of services and enhanced customer care. ANCOM supports the industry by the means available to it, by its active involvement in updating the draft law on the infrastructure of electronic communications networks, thus contributing to the preparation of a regulatory framework that should answer one of the most important problems encountered by the cable industry today”, Catalin Marinescu added.
He also mentioned the complaints the Authority received during the year, that show the growing level of discontent registered among the cable television customers. ANCOM receives complaints on the services provided by the cable operators, especially as regards the contract terms, technical problems, installation problems or the invoicing method.
Given the limited scope of the Authority’s attributions, since the objects of such complaints fall within the scope of competence of ANPC, the Authority is preparing a set of measures protecting the end-users, in order to ensure customer satisfaction with the contracted services and greater transparency as regards the terms of use of the electronic communications services. For this purpose, ANCOM is to reconsider the status of cable television services, weighing up the possibility of introducing additional provisions to the general authorisation regime.