Austria (country regulation overview)
License Price: US$ 3,740.00
The Austrian telecoms market has seen significant activity during the past year. In 2010 the TKK has completed a market analysis of five wholesale markets and one retail market, and is expected to finalize the analysis of the remaining five markets by the end of the year. Interestingly, unlike many other EU countries, the Austrian regulator, the Telekom Control Kommission (TKK), defines relevant markets specific to Austria and does not follow the EU’s recommended definitions.
Among its key decisions, the TKK obligated the incumbent, A1 Telekom Austria, to provide access to cable ducts and optical fiber, and also permitted alternative operators to offer VDSL2-based services. Alongside this, the Austrian government is carrying out a feasibility study on the deployment of fiber-optic networks to expand broadband networks to the rural regions of the country. These initiatives of the regulator and the government are expected to encourage investment in optical fiber networks, thereby driving the growth of bundled and converged services in the country.
Like many other telecoms regulators of European countries including Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, the TKK also issued licenses in the 2.6GHz band in September 2010 for offering LTE-based services. The introduction of 4G technologies is expected to enable service providers to launch innovative mobile broadband services at increased speeds, enabling the country to remain in competition with its counterparts in the EU region.
The Austrian telecoms market has seen significant activity during the past year. In 2010 the TKK has completed a market analysis of five wholesale markets and one retail market, and is expected to finalize the analysis of the remaining five markets by the end of the year. Interestingly, unlike many other EU countries, the Austrian regulator, the Telekom Control Kommission (TKK), defines relevant markets specific to Austria and does not follow the EU’s recommended definitions.
Among its key decisions, the TKK obligated the incumbent, A1 Telekom Austria, to provide access to cable ducts and optical fiber, and also permitted alternative operators to offer VDSL2-based services. Alongside this, the Austrian government is carrying out a feasibility study on the deployment of fiber-optic networks to expand broadband networks to the rural regions of the country. These initiatives of the regulator and the government are expected to encourage investment in optical fiber networks, thereby driving the growth of bundled and converged services in the country.
Like many other telecoms regulators of European countries including Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, the TKK also issued licenses in the 2.6GHz band in September 2010 for offering LTE-based services. The introduction of 4G technologies is expected to enable service providers to launch innovative mobile broadband services at increased speeds, enabling the country to remain in competition with its counterparts in the EU region.
Overview
Ovum view
Market overview
Fixed market overview
Broadband market
Mobile market overview
National regulatory authority
Competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Acts
Ordinances
Current status of market analysis
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
Allocation of frequencies in the 2.6GHz range
Allocation of GSM frequencies in the 450MHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 26GHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 3.5GHz range
Digital dividend
Retail regulation
The retail market
Cost model for retail tariffs
VoIP
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Number portability
Fixed voice interconnection
Cost model for reference interconnection offer
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Wholesale access
Wholesale line rental
Local loop unbundling
Wholesale broadband services
Government support for broadband expansion
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
National roaming
Fixed-to-mobile termination
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
Current cases
Universal service
Universal service obligation
Appendix
Market definitions
Methodology
Ovum view
Market overview
Fixed market overview
Broadband market
Mobile market overview
National regulatory authority
Competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Acts
Ordinances
Current status of market analysis
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
Allocation of frequencies in the 2.6GHz range
Allocation of GSM frequencies in the 450MHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 26GHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 3.5GHz range
Digital dividend
Retail regulation
The retail market
Cost model for retail tariffs
VoIP
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Number portability
Fixed voice interconnection
Cost model for reference interconnection offer
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Wholesale access
Wholesale line rental
Local loop unbundling
Wholesale broadband services
Government support for broadband expansion
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
National roaming
Fixed-to-mobile termination
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
Current cases
Universal service
Universal service obligation
Appendix
Market definitions
Methodology
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Austria: mobile market information
Table 2: Austria: 2.6GHz spectrum allocation
Table 3: 3.5GHz auction results (2009)
Table 4: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 5: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 6: Glidepath: mobile call termination 2009–11
Table 7: The RTR’s definition of relevant markets and SMP designation
Table 1: Austria: mobile market information
Table 2: Austria: 2.6GHz spectrum allocation
Table 3: 3.5GHz auction results (2009)
Table 4: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 5: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 6: Glidepath: mobile call termination 2009–11
Table 7: The RTR’s definition of relevant markets and SMP designation
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Fixed lines in Austria: 2005–09
Figure 2: Fixed broadband connections in Austria: 2005–09
Figure 3: Mobile subscribers in Austria: 2005–09
Figure 1: Fixed lines in Austria: 2005–09
Figure 2: Fixed broadband connections in Austria: 2005–09
Figure 3: Mobile subscribers in Austria: 2005–09
