Mlex (subscription needed) are reporting that according to a draft document seen by them, the European Commission will propose slashing the number of telecoms markets subject to ex ante regulation in a new recommendation for relevant markets, from 18 to just 8.

The new proposals, which will form part of the Commission’s ongoing review of the 2002 framework package, will see all retail markets dropped - with the exception of the fixed retail access markets, which will now be combined into one market. Other notable changes are the dropping of the broadcast transmission market, and the widening of the LLU market. According to Mlex the the commission’s new relevant markets are:

Retail level

1. Access to the public telephone network at a fixed location for residential and non-residential customers. (Previously Markets 1 & 2)

Wholesale level

2. Call origination on the public telephone network provided at a fixed location. (Previously Market 8 )

3. Call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location. (Previously Market 9)

4. Wholesale (physical) network infrastructure access (including shared or fully unbundled access, and access to ducts) for the purpose of providing broadband and/or voice services at a fixed location. (Previously Market 11)

5. Wholesale broadband access, (including virtual network access or its equivalent), for the purpose of providing broadband services at a fixed location. (Previously Market 12)

6. Wholesale terminating segments of leased lines, irrespective of the technology used to provide leased or dedicated capacity. (Previously Market 13)

7. Access and call origination on mobile public telephone networks. (Previously Market 15)

8. Voice call termination on individual mobile networks. (Previously Market 16)

Doesn’t look like there is any huge surprises here, aside maybe from the removal of the broadcast transmission market, but it is good to see the Commission looking to move with the times a bit more technologically speaking.