Allocating costs for number portability and carrier selection
Within the context of the overall principles of the Interconnection Directive, impending legislation in this area, and other relevant EU legislation, national regulatory authorities (NRA) may make their own arrangements for the introduction and operation of number portability and carrier pre-selection. Where these new facilities have already been introduced, the NRAs have intervened in order to ensure pro-competitive arrangements for costs allocation, however in other Member States, guidance from the EU may be required. The European Commission, DG XIII, has therefore published an invitation to tender for a study providing a clear basis for the assessment and allocation of costs for number portability and carrier pre-selection. It should also make concrete proposals for guidelines which may help the NRAs in drafting the necessary arrangements. The study should examine which categories of costs result from the introduction and operation of number portability and call-by-call carrier selection/carrier pre-selection; how these costs can be assessed objectively; and the effects of different ways of charging. In addition, relevant experience in countries where the facilities have already been introduced, where charging modalities should be considered, as well as the guiding principles which may be applied in order to ensure that the facilities will have the desired pro-competitive effect. The role of the NRA should also be considered and the cross-border effects of diverging national cost-allocation arrangements. The study should suggest a model for cost allocation which is in line with existing EU regulatory principles and which could provide guidance for NRAs in all EU Member States. The study should build on existing studies regarding number portability and carrier selection in general, and on relevant documents published by bodies such as the NRAs on cost allocation. For further information, please contact: European Commission DG XIII - Telecommunications, information market and exploitation of research Ms. Alison Birkett 200 rue de la Loi (BU31 3/58) B-1049 Brussels Tel. +32-2-2968342/2968209; Fax +32-2-2968393