European broadband public consultation launched

The European Commission has begun a public consultation which will look at fundamental regulations for EU members to apply to Next Generation Access broadband networks (NGA).

It is hoped that having the same regulatory principles in each member will allow a consistent treatment of providers in the union, ensuring the required regulatory predictability for investment.

A draft recommendation is being used as the basis for the consultation, which suggests creating agreed definitions for categories of services, risk premiums and rates of return.

"The deployment of new fibre-networks will shape the competitive conditions of the future," said Neelie Kroes, EU competition commissioner.

"We need an appropriate framework to give European companies fair access to the new networks."

He concluded: "We want national rules that will not only encourage the necessary substantial investment in fibre but also strengthen broadband competition."

The consultation will close on November 14th this year, after which the Commission will review any comments made before finalising the recommendation and adopting it in 2009.