ANACOM - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações has decided to recommend to PT Comunicações that it presents, by 31 October, an alteration to the ''PT ADSL Network'' offer to include NDSL (Naked DSL). This is a wholesale offer model that allows ADSL to be offered to consumers without the need to contract or maintain a fixed telephone service. The objective of the regulator is for PTC to set out a timeframe for the implementation of the offer so that NDSL can be operational as of 01 February 2008.
Despite setting a fixed period for the market to work, insofar as PTC might implement the NDSL offer in cooperation with the interested parties, the regulator has not ruled out the option of regulatory intervention in the event that the timeframe or the characteristics of the offer are deemed to be unsuitable of incompatible with current regulatory principles. Therefore PTC should keep the regulator informed of relevant developments.
The regulator's intention to set up an NDSL offer in Portugal follows the conclusion of a public consultation of the market, in which the vast majority of the parties that responded shared ANACOM's position, considering NDSL an important driver behind the penetration of broadband services and competition, especially in less populated areas or in areas with less favoured populations, in that it contributes to a reduction in total costs incurred by users in accessing internet with broadband.
A key aspect with respect to ANACOM's objective of protecting the consumer interest is to ensure that users obtain the maximum benefit in terms of choice, price and quality of telecommunications services, particularly in broadband access. In fact Naked DSL (NDSL) will have an impact on the penetration of this service, making a contribution to the development of the market, to social inclusion and to social wellbeing, putting broadband internet access within reach of individuals who have not so far taken up the service, because they are not interested in a fixed telephone service and/or paying the associated monthly charge, especially in areas not covered by the local loop offer.
NDSL (Naked DSL) may also provide an increase in competition, in that it gives operators more alternatives of choice and flexibility in the development of their retail offers, which could lead to them winning back, attracting, or holding onto to customers who are interested in broadband internet access services but who are not interested in having a fixed telephone service. It also allows innovation through the promotion of conditions that are more favourable to integrated fixed and mobile communications offers (giving impetus to the MVNO market at a national level) and triple or quadruple play offers, the latter of which will contribute to the promotion of the penetration of broadband internet access services in Portugal.
NDSL is already available in 2/3 of the countries of the EU 15, either as a result of regulatory imposition or at the initiative of the incumbent operator.
Consult:
- Wholesale naked digital subscriber line (''Naked DSL'') https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1070921
