Switzerland (Country Telecoms Regulation Overview)
The Swiss telecoms market has seen significant activity on the wholesale services front in 2009 and the first half of 2010. The regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom), has for the first time defined conditions for various access services including LLU, bitstream access, leased lines, and co-use of cable ducts.
With the amendment of the telecoms law, implemented from January 2010, the ComCom is focusing its efforts to revise wholesale pricing by obligating Swisscom to lower its prices. So far it has achieved a fair amount of success on this front, with the reduction in cable duct charges (implemented in December 2009) and leased line tariffs (in March 2010). We expect that the regulation of access markets together with the reduced wholesale tariffs would increase competition in the country.
The ComCom is also taking steps to maintain the competitive scenario in the mobile market. To this effect, it rejected the merger request of Sunrise and Orange to ensure that the Swiss mobile market does not become a duopoly, believing the merger could have negatively affected competition.
With the amendment of the telecoms law, implemented from January 2010, the ComCom is focusing its efforts to revise wholesale pricing by obligating Swisscom to lower its prices. So far it has achieved a fair amount of success on this front, with the reduction in cable duct charges (implemented in December 2009) and leased line tariffs (in March 2010). We expect that the regulation of access markets together with the reduced wholesale tariffs would increase competition in the country.
The ComCom is also taking steps to maintain the competitive scenario in the mobile market. To this effect, it rejected the merger request of Sunrise and Orange to ensure that the Swiss mobile market does not become a duopoly, believing the merger could have negatively affected competition.
Overview
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
Broadband market
VoIP
Mobile market overview
National regulatory authority
Competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Federal law
Decrees of the Federal Council
Decree of the ComCom
Decrees of OFCOM
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
New allocation of mobile radio frequencies
Broadband wireless access (BWA) licensing
Retail regulation
Services subject to regulation
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Fixed number portability
Narrowband voice interconnection
Cost model for RIO
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Narrowband flat-rate interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination
Wholesale access
Wholesale line rental
Local loop unbundling
Transition to all-IP networks
Wholesale broadband services
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
National roaming
Mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
ComCom fines Swisscom for abuse of a dominant position
Universal service
Universal service obligation
Broadband in the scope of the universal service obligation
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
Broadband market
VoIP
Mobile market overview
National regulatory authority
Competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Federal law
Decrees of the Federal Council
Decree of the ComCom
Decrees of OFCOM
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
New allocation of mobile radio frequencies
Broadband wireless access (BWA) licensing
Retail regulation
Services subject to regulation
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Fixed number portability
Narrowband voice interconnection
Cost model for RIO
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Narrowband flat-rate interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination
Wholesale access
Wholesale line rental
Local loop unbundling
Transition to all-IP networks
Wholesale broadband services
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
National roaming
Mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
ComCom fines Swisscom for abuse of a dominant position
Universal service
Universal service obligation
Broadband in the scope of the universal service obligation
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Switzerland mobile market information (4Q09)
Table 2: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 3: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 1: Switzerland mobile market information (4Q09)
Table 2: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 3: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Fixed access lines in Switzerland
Figure 2: Fixed broadband lines in Switzerland
Figure 3: Mobile subscribers in Switzerland
Figure 1: Fixed access lines in Switzerland
Figure 2: Fixed broadband lines in Switzerland
Figure 3: Mobile subscribers in Switzerland
