Austria (Country Regulation Overview)-Aarkstore Enterprise

Austria's fixed-line and mobile broadband segments have seen significant activity in 2009. The local loop unbundling prices were down almost 32% following the settlement of Telekom Austria's dispute with an alternative operator. To further broadband growth, the Austrian government has also initiated plans to expand broadband networks to the rural regions of the country in collaboration with the regulator (Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH). While currently in the assessment stage, the planned deployment of a fibre-optic network is expected to be a key growth driver for bundled and converged services in the country going forward.

In addition to fixed broadband, the regulator is also focusing on enhancing wireless broadband services. To this effect, it has allocated frequencies in 3.5GHz range for broadband wireless access services in August 2009. It also initiated a consultation process for the allocation of frequencies in the 2.6GHz range and the auction is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2010. Access to new spectrum will likely enhance the speed and capacity of wireless broadband services, driving its future growth.

Interconnect has remained a strong focus area over the past year. In March 2009, the regulator initiated a consultation process to set future fixed wholesale charges using a capacity-based charging system as an alternative to the current time-based charging. In mobile, the regulator has outlined a glidepath to reduce mobile termination charges by approximately 55% during the period 2009–11.. Reductions in termination costs as well as changes in wholesale charging methodology are expected to improve pricing flexibility for fixed operators, and result in reduced prices for consumers.

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Table of Contents :
Overview
Ovum view
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 licences
Allocation of GSM frequencies in 450MHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 26GHz range
Allocation of frequencies in 3.5GHz range
Retail regulation
VoIP
Ex-post price control
Wholesale fixed regulation
Fixed voice interconnection
Services subject to regulation
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Cost model for RIO
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
Mobile-to-fixed termination
Fixed-to-mobile termination
Basis for setting mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
Current cases
Universal service
Universal service obligation
Appendix
The EC's market definitions

List of Tables
Table 1: Austria: mobile market information (1Q09)
Table 2: 3.5GHz auction results (2009)
Table 3: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 4: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 5: Glidepath: mobile call termination 2009–11
Table 6: The EC's definition of seven markets to be analysed

List of Figures
Figure 1: Fixed lines in Austria
Figure 2: Fixed broadband access lines in Austria
Figure 3: Mobile customers in Austria

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