Deregulated labeling of wholesale fixed-line telephony access

He fixed-line telephony access market establishes how alternative operators gain access to the fixed-line telephone network. telephone. CNMC decided to deregulate it in the face of the new situation.

According to the Commission, operators wishing to provide fixed-line telephone services over a copper network (whether or not included in the scope of supply) broadband access) turn to the fixed access and origination market when they do not have direct access to the customer. Until now, Telefonica was obliged to provide access to alternative operators, which was specified in the law. Wholesale offer AMLT.

However, Every day there are more and more landline telephone lines with Internet and fewer and fewer homes that have only landline telephone service.. Thus, the number of fixed voice lines not combined with broadband access (1P lines) is decreasing every year. By the end of 2023, they represented less than 10%.

The share of 1P lines from the total number in the residential segment

From point of view access technologyoperators providing fixed-line telephone services with Internet mainly use fiber optic networkseither through proprietary access or by using wholesale services such as Local NEBA or Fiber NEBA. When they want to offer their customers 1P lines, they increasingly use their mobile networks (the so-called fixed radio access). By the end of 2023, 76.10% of 1P fixed access lines had already been provided in this way. Thus, the wholesale market for access and calling in fixed networks are no longer characterized by high barriers to entry.

The CNMC believes that the wholesale market for access and calling in fixed-line networks are no longer characterized by high barriers to entry

Share of fixed telephone access lines 1P depending on access technology (residential segment)

On the other hand, the CNMC confirmed that Retail fixed-line services have relatively competitive conditionsBetween 2017 and 2023, Telefonica’s market share by lines fell by more than five percentage points (from 47.08% to 41.79%).

From a wholesale point of view, the market also strives for effective competition.. The move away from copper networks by alternative operators is leading to the reduction of wholesale AMLT lines. This process has also been accelerated by Telefonica announces closure of copper plants.

Finally, the application of telecommunications sector rules and competition law ensures that this market continues to develop in a competitive environment.

CNMC removes the obligations currently borne by Telefonica.

In light of all this, they explain, the CNMC decided to deregulate the market and cancel the obligations currently imposed on Telefonica within six months.