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εεττ newsletter

July-september 2013issue νο 37

EETT's 8th International Conference “Regulation towards a Smart Digital Ecosystem”

Article by Mr. Michalis Chrisochoidis, Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks

BEREC Plenary Meeting in Athens under the Presidency of EETT

CommuniCations in HigH speed

O ver the latest period of this Plenary’s term and as a re-sult of the current conjuncture, EETT is called to handle and manage important issues concerning the growth of telecommunications and postal services in our country. Specifically, some of these issues that we should be deal-

ing with, as soon as possible, are the licensing of digital televi-sion network providers, the allocation of the Digital Dividend, the adaptation of the Greek market to the new regulatory policies of the European Union, the distribution of the Universal Service, the application of new regulations and market analyses, the appropri-ate legislative and actual implementation of the liberalisation of the postal market and also effective supervision, monitoring and regulation of new technological applications. Although this is not the time for a final account of this Plena-ry’s course, it is worth mentioning some of the most important projects and actions recently implemented, beyond the current daily operation of EETT. • Launching of new generation optical access networks into

the Greek market through the approval of VDSL retail and wholesale products.

• Empowerment of consumers-citizens through the rein-forcement of their rights in regulatory texts (General Li-cence Regulation, Operators' Code of Ethics) and the provi-sion of innovative applications, such as «HYPERION» for the evaluation of broadband characteristics and the Price Observatory.

• Inclusion of the one-stop shop licensing process for an-tenna mast constructions and the development of «SILYA» (Electronic System of Antenna Construction Application Submission).

• Successful auction for the granting of rights for the use of radiofrequencies in 900MHz and 1800MHz bands.

• Implementation of an internet application for checking the lawful operation of companies that are members of the licensed postal services network to be used by the Mini-stry's regional authorities when issuing licences of private use vans for courier undertakings.

• Implementation of the Geographic Information System (GIS) with all postal outlets of the country and access via the EETT website and mobile phones.

All this occurred in one of the most unfavourable economic en-vironments our country has ever experienced. EETT certainly closely follows and sometimes leads European developments, by participating in the respective European or international organi-sations (BEREC presidency, IRG, ITU, ERGP, CERP, UPU etc.)Nevertheless, the promotion of investments, the protection of consumers’ rights and, of course, the safeguarding of fair com-petition remain among the fundamental goals of our Authority and its highly qualified people.We believe that despite the difficulties of the current period and the unfavourable financial and social conditions, both te-lecommunications and postal services markets resist, re-orga-nise themselves, grow and have a more positive outlook for the future as compared to other industries. Despite their expected downturn, these markets are able to lead our country's return to growth rates. •

EETT's Intensified Work Load in this Difficult ConjunctureBy Mr. Michalis Sakkas, EETT Vice-President

Contents

2 Message by EETT Vice-President

3 Presentation of EETT 2012 Annual Report to the Hellenic Parliament

4 EETT's 8th International Conference “Regulation towards a Smart Digital Ecosystem”

6 BEREC Plenary Meeting in Athens under the Presidency of EETT

8 Main Article by Mr. Michalis Chrisochoidis, Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks

10 Encouraging Results on Antenna Mast Construction Licensing based on the Operation of “SILYA”

12 Deregulation of the Fixed Line Retail Call Market

13 EETT participates in the Global Symposium for Regulators

14 EETT Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Postal Network: Internet and Mobile Applications

16 Thank you Letter sent to EETT by a Consumer

VICE-PRE SIDEN T'S ME SSAGE

The promotion of investments, the protection of consumers’ rights and, of course, the safeguarding of fair competition remain among the fundamental goals of our Authority and its highly qualified people.

EETT Newsletter - Quarterly Publication of the

Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission

(EETT)

Issue 37

July-September 2013

Pages: 16

Responsible for publication by force of law:

Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, EETT President

Τ: +30 210 615 1000

F: +30 210 610 5049

W: http://www.eett.gr

E: [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief: EETT Public Relations Department

Design - Production: K.S.D. S.A.

The newsletter is distributed free of charge.

The articles published herein are not binding for EETT.

εETT newsle t ter • ISSuE νο 37

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EETT Presidency composed of its President, Dr. Leo-nidas Kanellos, and Vice-Presidents, Dr. Constantine Delicostopoulos and Mr. Michalis Sakkas, presented the Authority’s Annual Report for the year 2012 to the Special Permanent Committee of Institutions and

Transparency of the Hellenic Parliament. During the presentation, EETT Presidency referred in detail to initiative, priorities and actions that were taken over the past year, underlining the significant progress made to the benefit of the telecommunications and postal markets, the consumer and the economy. Dr. L. Kanellos inter alia referred to the regulation of the VDSL internet services in the Greek market, the market launch of 4G/LTE services as a result of the assignment of mobile telephony spectrum frequencies in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands, as well as the decrease in the wholesale termi-nation rates for calls to all mobile networks, which, for the current year only, is expected to lead to a decrease in the customers’ bills up to 47 million euros. EETT President also presented a series of initiatives such

as the design of the Price Observatory for Telecommunica-tions and Postal Retail Services, the upgrade of the System for Performance Evaluation of Broadband Connection Ser-vices «HYPERION», which enables all users to assess the performance of their ADSL/VDSL connections, as well as the development and operation of the Electronic System of Antenna Construction Application Submission (SILYA) implementing the one-stop shop licensing process for an-tenna mast constructions. Critical developments within the previous year were the reinforcement of the Autho-rity's role and competencies with the Laws 4053/2012 and 4070/2012 by the State, the successful term in the Vice-Presidency of the Body of European Regulators for Elec-tronic Communications (BEREC) and assumption of the Body's Presidency for the year 2013, which have placed the Greek Independent Authority at the centre of the re-gulatory decision making at pan-European level.

The 2012 Annual Report is available at www.eett.gr •

ΕΕ Τ Τ

Presentation of EETT 2012 Annual Report to the Hellenic Parliament

• Successful regulation of VDSL supply terms, offering to consumers broadband speeds up to 50 Mbps.

• Liberalisation of the spectrum in the 900 and 1800 MHz, following the completion of the tendering process, thus making available fourth generation mobile telephony services (4G), much earlier than in other European countries.

•Decrease in wholesale termination rates for calls to mobile phones, which is expected to lead to a fall in prices of calls from fixed telephony to mobile telephony also in the retail market, with considerable gains for consumers.

•Development of innovative and easy-to-use tools that allow consumers to monitor themselves charges, quality and availability of services; System for Performance Evaluation of Broadband Connection Services «HYPERION», Price Observatory for Telecommunication and Postal Retail Services, Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Postal Network.

• Issue of a new General Licence Regulation for providers of electronic communications aiming to safequard the rights of telephony and internet subscribers.

•Development and operation of the one-stop shop licensing process for antenna mast constructions through the Electronic System of Antenna Construction Application Submission (SILYA).

• Support of a smooth transition to digital television by supervising the analogue TV signal switch-off.

•Handling of approximately 10,000 consumers’ requests and complaints and issuing recommendations to prevent illegitimate charges.

• Issue of a new Licence Regulation for antenna mast constructions.

• Participation in the drafting of the new postal Law concerning the full opening of the market to the competition and the simultaneous guarantee of the Universal Service, as well as drafting the secondary legislation.

• Publication of proposals concerning the competitive development of the Greek postal market.

• Successful term at the Vice-Presidency of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and assumption of the Presidency for 2013.

• Participation in the work of the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

EETT's initiatives and actions in 2012


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IN T ERNAT IoNAl C oNfERENCE

The proceedings of the Confer-ence focused on the challenges and prospects emerging in the new digital reality for the mar-kets of electronic communica-

tions and postal services. Distinguished speakers, top ranking executives of Greek and international telecommuni-cations and postal markets, providers and agencies, as well as executives of the European Commission and interna-tional Regulatory Authorities discussed about the regulatory, business and technological choices that may guaran-tee competition, safeguard consumers' rights and maximise benefits for the economy. The conference was officially opened by the former Deputy Minister for In-frastructure, Transport and Networks Mr. Stavros Kalogiannis, who referred to the dynamic prospects of the elec-tronic communications and postal servi-

ces markets in Greece and the Ministry's goals for their further development. In this framework and in relation to elec-tronic communications, he stated that in cooperation with EETT and EU services, the Ministry had already started formu-lating a National Broadband Strategy for the development of advanced broadband infrastructure and the launching of inno-vative digital services. The Minister men-tioned that "an important challenge for the Ministry is the development of an in-tegrated national optical fibre infrastruc-ture (FTTH), which will connect approx-imately 2 million households, with an investment cost over 1 billion euros". As far as postal services are concerned, he highlighted the substantial mobility re-corded as a result of progressive market liberalisation and referred to the Minis-try's legislative regulations concerning the proper operation, the guarantee of Universal Service and the development

EETT’s 8th International Conference, entitled "Regulation towards a Smart Digital Ecosystem", was successfully held on May 16th & 17th 2013. The conference’s main conclusion was that the fast transition to the Digital Economy and the equal participation of citizens in the Knowledge Society are prerequisites for competitiveness and growth.

of healthy competition to the benefit of users. The second day of the Conference was officially opened by the General Secre-tary of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Mr. Menelaos Daskalakis, who inter alia stated: "The Ministry directly promotes projects and actions linking the telecommunications sector with the growth of the Greek economy. Thus, it designs its policy based on the strategic importance of the specific sector by fo-cusing its actions on the enhancement of investments and the strengthening of openness of Greek enterprises».EETT President and BEREC Chair, Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, highlighted in his opening speech how much the two sectors have contributed to the Greek economy by underlining their impor-tant growth prospects. As he stated, "technology convergence, increase in the rate of broadband access to the in-ternet, rapid increase in real time date delivery and at high speeds, smart de-vices, hybrid mail, rapid technological developments, but also the extent of applications in our daily life, shape a new digital ecosystem. An ecosystem in which all of us, State, Regulator, Market, must actively participate and thus co-shape developments, facilitat-ing its growth to the citizens' and the economy's benefit". Furthermore, Dr. L. Kanellos referred to the interac-tions of the two markets and stressed the decisive contribution of electronic communications to the qualitative im-

EETT's 8th International Conference“Regulation towards a Smart Digital Ecosystem”

Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, EETT President & BEREC Chair Attendees at EETT’s 8th International Conference


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IN T ERNAT IoNAl C oNfERENCE

Menelaos Daskalakis, General Secretary of Telecommunications and Postal Services

provement of postal services provi-sion.Dr. L. Kanellos, in his main address, during the second day of the Confe-rence, referred in detail to the new digital ecosystem, characterized by mobility, universal broadband and in-terconnectivity, providing a whole se-ries of "smart" technological applica-tions that can substantially improve our daily life. He also underlined that to utilize these new opportunities, ap-propriate network infrastructure is required. In this framework and since mobility and network capacity demands keep increasing at an exponential rate, Dr. L. Kanellos stressed the following: "If Europe really wants to play an active role in the developments, substantial investments, appropriate regulatory policies and measurable goals, such as those of the Digital Agenda 2020, are required".The first session of the Conference en-titled "Challenges and opportunities for a next generation postal ecosystem" focused on the adaptation of the postal market to the new conditions arising from the liberalised regulatory frame-work, the shrinkage of the volume of traditional postal objects and the in-crease in new postal products, such as e-commerce and hybrid mail. During the second session entitled "Digital in-novation for innovative and consumer-friendly postal services" the impact of new technologies, the interaction with the ever-expanding market of commu-

nication, advertising and e-commerce markets, as well as compliance of the postal sector with the Universal Service top priority targets and quality stand-ards for national and transnational ser-vices were discussed. During the third and last session of the first day entitled "Convergence of fixed and mobile ser-vices for a competitive communications market", top executives of the telecom-munications market discussed about the dynamic course of the Greek broadband market, the convergence of fixed and mobile telephony, the role of regula-tion, consumer demand and investment prospects in the sector. The second day of the conference, which overlapped with the celebration of the World Telecommunication and Information Day, included video broad-castgreetingsbyDr.HamadounTour�,Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Mr. Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEOofAT&Τ;theybothstressed,fromtheir own perspective, the importance of the next generation technology and the speed at which it has positively "in-vaded" our life. In the fourth session entitled "Europe at the forefront of the digital economy" representatives of the European Commission and BEREC, regulators and operators debated the impact of the European Commission’s Draft Recommendation on non-dis-crimination and costing methodologies for the successful NGA roll-out across Europe. Reference was also made to the

Body of European Regulators for Elec-tronic Communications (BEREC), which asks that the conditions in each of the national markets be taken into serious consideration.The fifth session entitled "Spectrum and network optimization for seam-less content delivery" focused on spec-trum refarming, network performance and prospects emerging for the audio-visual industry and the mobile broad-band ecosystem. Speakers discussed potential ways to amortize spectrum investments to develop innovative NGA services to serve the ever-increasing de-mand for more data and higher speeds for consumers on the move. Finally, in the sixth session entitled "Understand-ing consumer behaviour in the new multi-screen media world" the impact of the multi-screen media world (smart phones, tablets, digital television) on interactive media consumption, access to pay TV and on demand services was discussed. EETT International Conference with its extensive and up-to-date topics was, for the eighth consecutive year, an oppor-tunity for exchange of views, proposals, best practices, as well as constructive discussions. In the framework of its reg-ulatory and supervisory role, EETT will utilise the conclusions of the Confer-ence to the benefit of the two markets, consumers and the Greek economy.

Additional information, presentations and videos are available at http://www.eett.gr/conference2013/index-eng.htm

Stavros Kalogiannis, former Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks


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IN T ERNAT IoNAl REl AT IoNS

BEREC Plenary Meeting in Athens under the Presidency of EETTThe 15th Plenary Meeting of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) was hosted in Athens on June 6th and 7th 2013, under the chairmanship of Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, EETT President.

Representatives of the National Regulatory Authorities of the 27 EU member states, the four member states of the European Free Trade Asso-

ciation (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), as well as the four candidate EU member states (Croatia1, FYROM, Montenegro and Turkey) par-ticipated in the Meeting. The Athens Meeting was the second of the four Plenary Meetings of BEREC for 2013, the year in which, EETT President, Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, assumed the presidency of the Body. One day before the opening of the Ple-

the development of Next Generation Access Networks (NGAs) in line with the targets of the Digital Agenda of the European Commission.B) The regulatory approach concerning the application of vectoring technolo-gies in copper conventional networks.

nary Meeting and specifically on June 5th 2013, a workshop was held, in ac-cordance with the BEREC established practice, aiming at the informal ex-change of views on two topics:A) The role of the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) with reference to


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Left-to-right: Fran Dolenc, Director of APEK (Slovenia), Georg Serentschy, President of RTR (Austria), Minas Karatzoglou, President of BEREC Contact Network, Leonidas Kanellos, ΕΕΤΤ President & BEREC Chair, Göran Marby, Director-General of PTS (Sweden) & BEREC Chair for 2014 and Torstein Olsen, General Director of NPT (Norway).

Vectoring technology allows the sub-stantial increase in the transmission speed in small distances by offsetting line noise. It is thus suitable to improve VDSL line performance. However, it cannot be used together with sub-loop unbundling, which gives rise to impor-tant challenges at regulatory level.The workshop organised by the BEREC NGA Expert Working Group offered the opportunity for a constructive dis-cussion and presentation of practices followed in various European coun-tries. During the Meeting, the Board of Re-gulators elected as Chair for 2014 Mr.G�ranMarby,Director-Generalofthe Swedish Authority (PTS). Mr. Mar-by will assume his new duties in Janu-

ary 2014 and will remain as Incoming Chair up to that date.Also, during the Meeting, the Board of Regulators discussed and approved the publication of the BEREC Annual Re-port for 2012, as well as the recent six-month report on termination rates for voice calls and SMS to mobile and fixed networks (Termination Rates Snapshot Report).Finally, BEREC members approved the organisation of a special one-day con-ference in autumn 2013 focusing upon potential measures to reinforce/facili-tate access of disabled and disadvan-taged users to electronic applications.The organisation of the BEREC Plenary Meeting was extremely successful and received particularly praising comments

from its participants, proving that EETT has the know-how and organizational capability and fully meets the high de-mands entailed in the assumption of the Presidency of such an important Euro-pean body. At the same time, the Greek Authority becomes a key player and is able to co-shape regulatory develop-ments in the European electronic com-munications market, in a particularly crucial conjuncture with important deci-sions determining its future.BEREC next Plenary Meeting will be held in Riga, Latvia, on September, 26th & 27th, 2013. •

1 Please note that since July 1st 2013 Croatia has become the 28th EU member state.

BEREC's competenciesBEREC is a European body advising and supporting the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and the National Regulatory Authorities regarding electronic communications issues. With its work and its objectivity and independence, BEREC plays a pivotal role in the shaping of the European regulatory policy for elec-tronic communications while it actively con-tributes to ensuring conditions of fair com-petition to the benefit of the market and consumers.


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The “Digital Dividend”: a Lever for Development, a Real Dividend for Society

The transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting signal liberates a wide spectrum of radiofrequencies, which is known as “Digital Dividend”. The Digital Dividend is a national resource for the development and modernization of our economy. Simultaneous radio and television signal broadcasting and services provided through wireless technology networks can radically change the technology and production map of the country.

T he provision of a wide range of digital services and the development of Information and Communication Tech-nologies (ICT) offer the op-

portunity to utilize a very important resource in abundance: well-edu-cated young people with skills and aptitude for new technologies. Our country is offered a great opportu-nity to obtain the share that corre-sponds to the potential of its human resources. The total value of ICT markets is estimated at 2.2% of the

M AIN ART IClE

By Mr. Michalis Chrisochoidis, Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks

tion and entertainment in Europe, there is also a significant increase in the provision of multimedia and audio-visual content on demand. The Digital Dividend is expected to boost both the radio-television transmis-sion and the wireless communica-tions sectors; thus, further improve-ment of the framework for its mana-gement, aiming at favouring both the industry and the consumers, is an important aspect of the new digi-tal strategy of Europe.

Gross Domestic Product of the Eu-ropean Union. The Digital Dividend constitutes a major factor of produc-tivity, competitiveness and develop-ment of the European industry and Greece could pioneer in this effort. Specifically, the digital and audio-visual services industry currently provides employment to more than one million people in the European Union and plays an important social and economic role. Although radio-television transmission services are still the main source for informa-

The Digital Dividend is expected to boost both the radio-television transmission and the wireless communications sectors; thus, further improvement of the framework for its management, aiming at favouring both the industry and the consumers, is an important aspect of the new digital strategy of Europe.

In the framework of the European strategy on rational utilization and management of the Digital Divi-dend, member states are called upon to follow a coordinated approach for the allocation of radiofrequen-cies, aiming to maximize benefits, but also ensure optimum use with regard to efficiency. Member states have already been called upon to co-operate for a flexible and coherent access to the radio spectrum in or-der to facilitate the introduction and provision of new services.


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M AIN ART IClE

For instance, such services include standard electronic social services (e-health, e-learning, e-democracy, e-government, e-security etc.), ac-cess to television services through mobile telephony networks, trans-mission of high definition digital television signal and expansion of multimedia and audio-visual services through mobile telephony networks as well as broadband internet access services. Additionally, Digital Divi-dend use will create all necessary conditions for the modernization and deeper penetration of new tech-nologies in the public sector, lead-ing directly to the improvement of communication between citizen and Public Administration.The digital switchover has already started in our country and is ex-pected to be completed by the sec-ond half of next year. The develop-ment goals on a national level set by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, in-clude: increasing the capacity of the

suring better access to funding; fi-nally, market convergence with ref-erence to services and transmission platforms (terrestrial networks, sat-ellite and mobile networks and next generation networks). At the moment, the Frequency Map of Terrestrial Digital Tel-evision has already been published and all necessary studies on the uti-lization of the Digital Dividend have been completed, while the open pub-lic call for tenders concerning the licensing of the radio spectrum rights of use is to be completed at the latest by November 2014.Our country moves towards a radical transformation of its production and economy model. The new extrovert economy of openness, technologi-cal restructuring and development of innovative services and products will take Greece out of the crisis, dynamically placing the country on the global allocation of labour and creating new opportunities and jobs, mainly for young people. •

internal market of access services and radio-television/digital services; attracting investments in the sec-tor; increasing the competitiveness of the sector’s companies through support mechanisms in the form of various actions and, mainly, by en-

At the moment, the Frequency Map of Terrestrial Digital Television has already been published and all necessary studies on the utilization of the Digital Dividend have been completed, while the open public call for tenders concerning the licensing of the radio spectrum rights of use is to be completed at the latest by November 2014.


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ElEC T RoNIC C oMMuNIC AT IoNS

Encouraging Results on Antenna Mast Construction Licensing based on the Operation of “SILYA”

The Electronic Submission of Antenna Construction Application System (SILYA) is a web platform, designed and developed by EETT, to support the newly introduced one-stop shop procedure for the antenna mast construction licensing as defined by Law 4070/2012 on electronic communications. SILYA was launched in December 2012.

By Mr. Haris Geronimakis, Head of the EETT Department of Spectrum Management

Following the new licensing framework, the complete set of applications and files rele-vant to an antenna mast should be submitted via SILYA. The

files should include the application to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), stu-dies on public protection from electro-magnetic transmissions, application for the radiofrequency rights of use, environmental studies/declarations and the application for installation approval by the urban planning au-thorities. After the electronic submission of the complete set of files, the competent authorities assess the applications/studies and either approve/issue a positive opinion, or ask applicants to amend/complete their application, or reject them. Four months after a complete set of applications/files has been submitted to SILYA, EETT is obliged to issue a certificate to con-firm the completeness of the applica-tion, provided that positive opinions have been issued by the CAA and the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), radiofrequency usage rights have been granted by EETT and there are no objection by any other compe-tent authority. This certificate grants the operator the right to install an antenna mast construction. Once the complete set of applications has been assessed and all individual approv-

troduces the concept of Declaration of Environmental Terms for environ-mental category “B” antenna mast constructions, provided they comply with certain criteria, such as having less than 30 microwave links and that the construction will not require any road constructions. According to the new framework such constructions have a minimum environmental im-pact and no environmental approval is therefore required for their instal-lation; instead, the only requirement is the submission of a Declaration of Environmental Terms (DET) to EETT.

Legal operation of antenna mast constructionsAdditionally, pursuant to Law 4053/2012, all non-licensed antenna mast constructions that fulfil the fol-lowing requirements are considered legally operating for a period of 24 months: a) a licence application that had been submitted to EETT before 07/03/2012, b) a positive opinion by GEAC and c) an environmental study submitted to the competent Prefec-ture. The operator is therefore obliged to follow the aforementioned licens-ing procedure within this period. It should be noted that over 5,000 un-licensed constructions pertain to this regulation, due to delays in their en-vironmental licensing. Following the recent change in environmental law, the majority of those constructions may fall under the newly introduced environmental category “B” for which the submission of a declaration is re-quired instead of a licence; thus their applications may be completed and EETT may proceed with the licensing process. The licensing procedure for these “legally operating” antennas is also supported by the electronic platform SILYA despite the fact that the sys-tem was originally designed to sup-

als have been granted, an antenna mast licence is issued to replace the completeness certificate. In case that after granting the certificate one or more relevant authorities reject the part of the application that lies under their jurisdiction, the certificate is re-voked by EETT. To date all major elec-tronic communication network opera-tors and digital television providers have obtained an account to SILYA. Moreover, besides EETT, both CAA and GAEC are also active users of the platform.

New framework for environmental licensingThe acceleration of the process for antenna mast construction licence is also facilitated by the new framework for environmental licensing, which in-

After the electronic submission of the complete set of files, the competent authorities assess the applications/studies and either approve/issue a positive opinion, or ask applicants to amend/complete their application, or reject them.


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port only the newly introduced “one-stop shop” licensing procedure.

Licensing dataCharts 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate quantita-tive data regarding applications submit-ted through the one-stop shop process, in accordance to Law 4070/2013, and the results of the examination of these applications.In addition to what is mentioned above, from the beginning of the SILYA opera-tion until 01/07/2013, EETT has:• issued 190 antenna mast construc-

tion licences in accordance to L. 4053/2013

• examined 355 declarations to include antenna mast constructions into the Standard Environmental Commit-ments procedures.

• examined and returned to the opera-tor (at least once) 366 declarations to include antenna mast construc-tions into the Declaration of Environ-mental Terms (DET).

Chart 2Applications for antenna mast construction licences submitted according to Law 4070/2013 (until 01/07/2013)

return to the operatorpending at eettpending for other approvalsrejectionsissue of license

issue of certificatereturn to the operatorpending at eettFour months have not passed by

/pending matter outside eett

70

75

158

1833

Chart 3Applications for the certificate of file completeness submitted following Law 4070/2013 (until 01/07/2013).

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

01/1/2013 1/2/2013 1/3/2013 1/4/2013 1/5/2013 1/6/2013 1/7/2013

L.4070L.4053

Chart 1Total number of applications submitted per month

The aforementioned data concerning the first months of SILYA operation demon-strate a clear improvement and accelera-tion of the process compared to the pre-vious licensing system, despite the fact that a large number of bodies involved in the antenna mast construction licensing, such as Prefectures and urban planning authorities, have not joined the system yet. EETT, as an effort towards the con-tinuous improvement and expansion of SILYA and in order to enhance the trans-parency of the process, will continue to add new features, such as tools available to the public via EETT’s website, so that any interested party will have access to the licensing data of any antenna mast. •

The data concerning the first months of SILYA operation show a clear improvement and acceleration of the process compared to the previous licensing system.

62 18 33

828


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Deregulation of the Fixed Line Retail Call Market

EETT decided to deregulate the fixed line retail market for calls within the Greek territory by individual and business customers. The relevant Draft Measures submitted by EETT, following a national public consultation, have been accepted by the European Commission without any comments. As a result of the EETT regulatory policy, the fixed line retail call market tends to be effectively competitive to the benefit of consumers. In this framework, EETT decided to lift all regulatory obligations imposed on OTE.

T aking into consideration the conditions prevailing in the Greek telecommunications market, EETT proceeded to the examination of the retail

call market in the context of the third round of analysis. To deter-mine the market competitiveness, EETT examined the substitutability between different types of fixed line call services (local, national, calls to mobile phones etc.), fixed access services, mobile telephony calls, services to individual and business customers, as well as VoIP services (Voice over Internet Pro-tocol). This detailed examination led to the conclusion that within the Greek territory there is a fixed line retail market of national calls provided to individual and business customers. This market includes local calls, national calls, calls to mobile telephones, calls to short codes, calls to toll free numbers, shared-cost services, premium rate calls, personal number services and dial-up calls for internet access. Ad-ditionally, according to the EETT analysis, managed VoIP services offered together with a broadband connection, based on the network provider, and having all the fea-tures of the “traditional” telephony, may also be considered a substitute

alone is insufficient to adequately address failures identified in that market. The EETT examination re-vealed that, although high barriers to entry still exist, there is clear evidence that the market tends to-wards effective competition (fail-ure to meet the second criterion) and, therefore, an ex-ante regula-tion of the fixed line retail call mar-ket is not necessary in the Greek territory.

For this reason, EETT decided to lift all relevant regulatory obligations imposed on OTE in the context of the previous market analysis round and, specifically, of the following obligations: (a) price control, cost data and cost accounting data sub-mission, (b) accounting separation, (c) transparency, (d) non-discrimi-nating treatment and (e) bundling at retail level.

It is noted that EETT’s decision does not concern monthly fees since the regulation of the retail market for fixed access (PSTN, ISDN con-nection) has not been completed yet. Hence, combination packages offered by OTE, including access services, are still subject to ex ante approval in order to prevent cases of profit margin squeeze and/or predatory pricing. •

for “traditional” telephony, hence, a part of the specific market.

It should be noted that during the previous (second) round of analysis for retail call services provided in fixed locations, EETT had concluded that there were two separate mar-kets differentiating between calls towards geographical numbers (lo-cal - national) and calls to non-geo-graphical numbers (calls to mobile telephones and service providers). However, market developments, including the significant decrease in termination rates for mobile te-lephony networks, have led EETT to a review of the relevant definition.

By implementing the national and European framework for electronic communications, EETT applied a test based on three criteria to de-termine whether ex-ante regulation is needed, by imposing valid regula-tory obligations to operators with significant market power in the de-fined market. Specifically, and as provided by the European Commis-sion, EETT examined whether: (a) there are high and non-transitory barriers to enter the defined mar-ket, (b) the characteristics of the market will prevent it from pro-moting effective competition in the long run and (c) competition law


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Over 650 representatives of Regulatory Authorities or ministries worldwide, as well as representatives of market bodies from 131 countries, par-

ticipated in the Warsaw Symposium. Important global regulatory policy is-sues were discussed, such as the role of regulation in attracting investments, the funding of the Universal Service, the use of “white spaces” of the radio-frequency spectrum, the promotion of electronic transactions under secure and reliable conditions, as well as new business models for the provision of content and services through broad-band networks.Dr. Kanellos moderated the discussion on the costing of interconnection ser-vices in broadband networks during the transfer to IP networks, with par-ticular emphasis on competition issues and new invoicing standards for inter-connection services between operators. Prior to the Symposium, the annual summit of BEREC and REGULATEL – which is the Latin American Forum of Telecommunications Regulators –

took place under the chairmanship of Dr. L. Kanellos. In this meeting partici-pated 44 representatives of 23 Euro-pean and South American Regulatory Authorities as well as representatives of the European Commission. Issues of common interest were discussed and the preparation of a Memorandum of Co-operation between the Regulatory Au-thorities concerned, was agreed upon.On the same day, a meeting of the Regulators Unions was held and was chaired by Dr. L. Kanellos under the auspices of ITU. Representatives of 18 Regional Unions from Europe, Ameri-ca, Asia and Africa participated in the meeting and mainly discussed about the policies of broadband promotion, Inter-national Roaming issues and the fund-ing of the Universal Service. Following the proposals of the BEREC Chair, the mapping of the Regulators Unions was agreed upon, based on the regulatory scope of each one of them. It was also agreed to take initiatives concerning ex-changes of know-how and development of cooperations for the effective regu-lation and supervision of the electronic

Dr. Leonidas Kanellos, EETT President and Chair of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), participated in the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 13) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), on July 3th-5th, 2013.

EETT participates in the Global Symposium for Regulators

Participants in the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 13) in Warsaw, Poland

communications markets. During the closing ceremony of the Symposium, BEREC Chair presented the conclusions of the meeting, together with the ITU Deputy Secretary General. On the side-lines of the Symposium, Dr. L. Kanellos had the opportunity to discuss with many participants about issues of their responsibility; he also had a close cooperation with the Acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communi-cations Commission (FCC), Ms. Mignon Clyburn, with whom he discussed the prospects of cooperation between the two Authorities related to broadband promotion and radio spectrum policy, as well as open internet and ensuring equal access for all to the Information Society. •

EETT President and BEREC Chair, Dr. L. Kanellos, with Ms. M. Clyburn, FCC Acting Chairwoman


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EETT Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Postal Network: Internet and Mobile Applications

With the new, technologically advanced Geographical Information System (GIS), ΕΕΤΤ significantly improves the services provided topostal operators and consumers, contributing, on the one hand, to the shaping of fair competition conditions for operators and, on the other hand, to the safeguarding of consumer rights for constant service and reliable information.

dots, the points of interest in each area are presented in clusters; by in-creasing scale, the clusters split into their elements, the size and colour of which are indicative to the number of points included.The application is very easy to use. Through a search engine, users choose the postal services and geo-graphical location of interest. All available information (address, tele-phone number, fax, website, work-ing days and hours etc.) is displayed by simply pointing with the cursor a specific postal point of service on the map.In the same context with the internet application, EETT innovates again with the new smart phone applica-tion, available in Greek and English, in iOS and Android operating sys-tems. The application aims to provide bet-ter, easier and prompt services to con-sumers and tourists visiting Greece.A user-friendly option menu at the bottom of the screen enables user to locate the nearest point of service. The user’s location is either auto-matically detected by the operating system or by the use of the search en-gine. The user chooses the postal ser-vice point of interest and navigates the map. For each selected point, all available information is provided. Ad-ditionally, the optimum route from current to destination point may also be displayedBoth applications have been deve-loped in silverlight technology. The GIS will be regularly maintained and updated by EETT Directorate of Postal Services. •

The mobile application is available at www.eett.gr.

The mobile phone application is available as “EETT postal” in the Android market for Android mobile phones and in the App Store for iPhones.

P oS TAl SERVICE S

By Ms. Despina Traganou, Scientific Expert of EETT Directorate of Postal Services

On the EETT website, through a functional and user-friend-ly application, consumers may search for the nearest postal point of service. A cus-

tom-made map illustrates all ELTA service points (post offices, agencies,

collection boxes and cluster letter boxes), the ELTA excluded areas, as well as all courier service points, in a particularly innovative way, as il-lustrated in the picture below.In order to facilitate the users and avoid the whole map’s coverage with


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P oS TAl SERVICE S

EETT’s Vice-President, Mr. Michalis Sakkas participated in the 2nd e-Business World, which was organized in Ath-ens on June 19th, 2013. In his greeting, Mr. M. Sakkas re-

ferred to the postal market’s challenges and perspectives, the penetration of e-business and the contribution of new technologies to its develop-ment.

EETT’s participation in the 2nd e-Business World


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C oNSuMERS

#

Thank you Letter sent to EETT by a Consumer

Frequently, CSS receives positive comments and thank you letters by consumers who managed to solve a dispute or a problem they faced, thanks to EETT’s intervention. As an E

ETT’s Consumer Service Sector (CSS) handles requests, inqui-ries and complaints received on a daily basis in a highly consi-stent, effective and reliable way.

example, a thank you letter is cited below in which Mr. A.M. thanks EETT for having successfully dealt with his complaint. •

With this letter, I would like to thank EETT and espe-cially Ms. E.A. who, in reply to my letter of complaint with Reg. No EETT 17087/15-04-13, eagerly acted and contributed to the immediate writing-off of the amount I was unfairly and improperly charged with by a mobile telephony company.The aforementioned credited amount, as referred to in the company’s letter I received, does not derive from possible wrongful actions of the company, but it is rather based on the company’s “bona fide” and trade practices.Additionally, let me note that without the managerial

effectiveness and professional conscientiousness of Ms. E.A. such fair result would not have been achieved.In recognition and consideration of the unfavourable circumstances civil servants face nowadays, especially in these difficult times we are experiencing (devalua-tion of the Public Sector by the media, decrease in sala-ries, cutting off of personnel - see special labour reserve - etc.), I wish your productive work was more emphati-cally promoted, thus instilling a sense of confidence into Greek consumers.

Α.Μ.,Thessaloniki,Greece

To the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) Consumer Service Sector Subject: Mobile Telephony

547

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60, Kifissias Avenue, Gr - 151 25 Maroussi, Greece • Τel.: +30 210 615 1000, Fax: +30 210 610 5049

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επικοινωνιεσ - EETT · επικοινωνιεσ... εεττ newsletter July-september...

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