ANRC Initiated Market Studies for the Identification of Retail Markets

The National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC) initiated market studies aimed at the end users, which would lead to the identification of relevant specific retail markets within the electronic communications sector.

The studies will be conducted with support from Daedalus Consulting Company, who won the tender organized by ANRC by the end of last year.

Six market studies will be conducted and are to be finalised in March, 2004:

– Study regarding the use of fixed telephony and the impact of mobile telephony on fixed telephony, as regards the users – natural persons (a qualitative study conducted on 12 focus-groups from Bucharest and the province and a quantitative study on a pattern of 1000 persons at a national level)

– Study regarding the use of fixed telephony and the impact of mobile telephony on fixed telephony, as regards the users – legal persons (a quantitative study conducted on a pattern of 600 companies)

– Study regarding the use of Internet, as regards the users – natural persons (quantitative study on 1000 persons)

– Study regarding the use of Internet, as regards the users – legal persons (quantitative study on 600 companies)

– Study regarding the use of leased lines services by end users, as regards the users – legal persons (quantitative study conducted on a pattern of 150 companies)

There will be measured parameters such as: the impact of mobile telephony on the way fixed telephony is used, the monthly average expenditures with different types of electronic communications services, the users’ behaviour when alternative providers of fixed telephony services enter the market, the number of users of prepaid cards and their degree of satisfaction, the users’ degree of satisfaction as regards the fixed telephone services and dial-up and Internet access services, as well as the extent to which they are willing to acquire services based on new technologies.

At the same time, for the purpose of obtaining complete and concrete information, reflecting with accuracy the reality on the Romanian electronic communications market, ANRC will also analyse the statistical data reported periodically by the providers of electronic communications networks and services. The comments received from the operators during the public consultation regarding the identification of relevant retail markets will also be taken into consideration.

On grounds of these studies and analyses, ANRC intends to obtain information as basis for establishing the substitutability and geographical limits of the relevant retail markets, for evaluating markets’ capacity to function based on competitive mechanisms, and for identifying the possible obstacles in the establishment of a normal competitive environment on the retail markets. Based on the results, ANRC will identify the relevant retail markets and will analyse them in order to determine the existence of operators with significant power. These operators will be imposed obligations in accordance with Law no.304/2003 on universal service and the users’ rights regarding the electronic communications services and networks.