The Programme

Paraskevi Michou
Head of Unit - Implementation of Regulatory Framework
Information Society & Media
EC

The official position of the European Commission on implementing the Regulatory Framework – 1 year on

• EC's review of the regulatory framework
• Recent regulation on voice and data roaming
• Commission extending its powers of veto into the area of remedies

A  perspective from a pan- European Operator on the EC’s review of the regulatory framework – 1 year on

• Optimisation of the European regulatory model for overall market health
• Understanding the current market and justifying the need for change
• Deciding on the next step and the shift towards competition law

How will the evolution and development of more powerful and application rich handsets shape regulation  

• What dos the future hold for truly wireless and mobile internet application
• Understanding the knock on effect handset capabilities might bring to the telecoms supply chain
• Discussing the potential changes regulators will have to make in a consumer driven device market

Exploring how the regulation of digital content will change as operators shift from voice carriers to media companies

• Managing the required changes for compliance with digital transmission and broadcasting
• How will consumer demand and new services shape future regulation?
• Ensuring consumer and child safety and security in a data-rich environment

Peter O'Connell
Director of Strategy and Regulation
Eircom

Appropriate regulatory philosophy to ensure innovation and competition through fixed mobile convergence strategies.

• What is Fixed Mobile Convergence? 
• What is the current state of play? 
• Which current common EU regulatory rules hamper convergence  and therefore innovation ?
• What regulatory provisions should be introduced ,  or policy adopted , to encourage innovation as well as ensuring competition in the evolution of Fixed Mobile Convergence ? 

The future of Regulation of the Mobile Industry in Europe – Dangers of over regulation

• Contribution of Mobile to European Economy and Society
• Evaluation of Trends in Regulation  - ROAMING, MTR’S SPECTRUM
• Impact of Regulation on Innovation and market development
• Influence of European Regulation on other regions
• Suggestions for alternative approaches to addressing concerns of European Commission and Regulators

Protecting revenues and managing compliance of an international portfolio in emerging markets

• Building an international portfolio of mobile services in emerging markets
• Evaluating and implementing best practices across such a diverse geography
• Managing the evolution from concession schemes to telecom regulation  

Highlighting the differences and impact of MTR regulation in the US and European markets

• How does the US Telecoms market differ from the European Market?
• What are the pros and cons of each markets approach to terminations rates?
• Evaluating the impact these regulations have on the trans-Atlantic operator

The 2008 Review: An opportunity for Next Generation Access Networks

• How to adapt current telecoms to risky investment in new high speed broadband access networks
• How to encourage infrastructure based competition wherever possible through geographical segmentation    of markets and opening of ducts
• How to ensure that regulated access is targeted to cases where infrastructure-based competition is not        feasible and based on a fair risk sharing

Unlocking the long term value of Functional Separation for incumbent and alternatives

• Has the Functional Separation model shown a significant rise in NGN investment?
• How well has the model evolved to cope with the changing demands of the market?
• Emerging beyond the arguments of Functional Separation and what really lies ahead

 Functional Separation in the Italian market

• A discussion of the work in progress

Securing equality of access for all operators in the market

• Examining the regulatory and other challenges for achieving equality of access
• Reviewing the different approaches for ensuring Equality of Access - Openreach case study
• Forecasting effects of current practice and regulation on the market predicting change

Reviewing the necessary environment for NGA investment

• Understanding commercial models and competitive environment
• Commercial and regulatory (dis-)incentives for NGA deployment
• Changes to the regulatory environment

Delegates will be able to attend three one-hour roundtable discussion groups from a selection of key topics. Each session will be chaired by an industry expert who will facilitate an exchange of opinions, essential experiences and learning on related aspects and challenges surrounding Telecoms Regulations and Competition Law

Roundtable Leaders Summary Session       

Revealing how a Single Market in telecoms would assist the European economy through competition in pan-European services

• Identifying why consistency of regulation is vital for creating pan-EU seamless services for business
• The need for an institutional structure to succeed ERG with real power to deliver competitive access
• examining the risks of the wrong methods for encouraging NGN/NGA investment by incumbents

NGN in the Netherlands: a balancing act: A view from a regulatory perspective 

• The case in the Netherlands: VDSL, wireless and FTTH
• Overview of the competitive playing field in the Netherlands
• Regulatory challenges and issues

Meeting the challenge of explosive growth in video and other online content

• Implications for network operators, application providers, policy-makers and regulators.
• How best to ensure quality and affordable pricing for users?
• Does the solution lie in Network Neutrality regulation or network management?

ERG perspective on the ongoing regulatory issues and actual developments

• Review discussion, in particular on institutional issues: where do we stand?
• Draft Recommendation on Termination Rates
• Draft Recommendation on NGA
• Recent regulatory developments
• Market developments and interaction with regulatory decisions