91999E1943

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1943/99

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: The information society and the ultraperipheral regions

The development of the European information society is of the greatest importance for the ultraperipheral regions, since it constitutes a means of overcoming some of the particular difficulties they face.

Their small size means that market forces do not operate there in the way they do in mainland regions; this gives rise to de facto monopolies which slow down or even block access to specific infrastructures and advanced services which are more and more widespread on the mainland.

Is the Commission prepared to enact measures to ensure that telecommunication user services can be provided in the ultraperipheral regions on a competitive basis and under quality conditions identical to those in mainland regions, by establishing minimum ultraperipheral communications service parameters?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

The Commission agrees that the development of the European information society is important for all regions and for both private citizens and commercial businesses.

The Honourable Member is right to point out that competitive market forces in the telecommunications sector may not work as well in ultra-peripheral regions as they do in mainland or more populated regions.

This possibility is recognised in Directive 98/10/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 1998 on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony and on universal service in a competitive environment(1). Member States are obliged to ensure that at least one designated operator provides telephone service in the whole of the national territory and the Directive also specifies the nature and quality of services to be provided, and requires that the subscriber connection supports data and facsimile services.

In most Member States, the universal service operator is obliged to provide services on a common tariff and quality basis throughout the territory. Therefore, even if the designated operator only faces competition in part of the territory, the positive impact in terms of price and quality is transferred uniformly to other areas.

In addition, the Commission is currently surveying in detail the availability and use, quality and affordability of advanced telecommunications services by residential and business users in all the regions of the Community(2).

(1) The Survey study on the situation of telecommunications services in the regions of the Community is being undertaken by EOS Gallup. This study is currently in progress and results are expected by the end of 1999.

(2) The Survey study on the situation of telecommunications services in the regions of the Community is being undertaken by EOS Gallup. This study is currently in progress and results are expected by the end of 1999.