Broad front against excessive grid fees
Various consumer protection organizations, the Swiss Trade Association, the Price Supervisor, private telecommunications providers, and other associations and organizations are opposing excessive network access prices in the telecommunications sector. They are all calling for the network valuation to no longer be artificially inflated as part of the revision of the Telecommunications Services Ordinance (FDV).
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) has published its comments on the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (TSO). The revision sought by the Federal Council aims to take account of previous experience and recent developments in the telecommunications market. According to Sunrise, the public hearing on the revision has now confirmed that the current method for the network valuation of the last mile is controversial. A broad opposition to the current practice has formed, Sunrise writes in a press release issued on Wednesday. The conviction has grown that the former monopolist's telephone network, which has evolved over time, has largely been written off and is hardly ever renewed. There is therefore no reason to calculate Swisscom's usage costs on the basis of a complete overhaul of the old copper network. Instead, the actual costs that are still being incurred today for the old copper network should be used for the calculation.
This position in the planned revision of the FDV is supported by numerous associations, organizations and specialist bodies, including consumer protection organizations, the Swiss Trade Association, the price watchdog and private telecoms providers. According to the telephone provider, switching to a method that only charges the actual costs would reduce the costs for users of the old Swisscom network by around CHF 400 million per year. This would lead to increased competition, with a greater choice of telephony and Internet services.
Swisscom remains market leader
As the Federal Office of Communications Bakom Swisscom explained at its annual conference in Biel today, Swisscom remains the market leader in the Swiss telecoms market. According to Netzwoche, the telco achieved a market share of 52 percent in the broadband sector and as much as 76 percent for DSL connections. Swisscom is also still very present in the fixed network and mobile telephony sector. It has a market share of 61.9%, while other providers in the EU only have an average of 38.3%.
Compared to the EU countries, however, the price level in Switzerland remains high. The average mobile customer in Switzerland pays 30.69 euros per month compared to 19.49 euros in the EU.
This position in the planned revision of the FDV is supported by numerous associations, organizations and specialist bodies, including consumer protection organizations, the Swiss Trade Association, the price watchdog and private telecoms providers. According to the telephone provider, switching to a method that only charges the actual costs would reduce the costs for users of the old Swisscom network by around CHF 400 million per year. This would lead to increased competition, with a greater choice of telephony and Internet services.
Swisscom remains market leader
As the Federal Office of Communications Bakom Swisscom explained at its annual conference in Biel today, Swisscom remains the market leader in the Swiss telecoms market. According to Netzwoche, the telco achieved a market share of 52 percent in the broadband sector and as much as 76 percent for DSL connections. Swisscom is also still very present in the fixed network and mobile telephony sector. It has a market share of 61.9%, while other providers in the EU only have an average of 38.3%.
Compared to the EU countries, however, the price level in Switzerland remains high. The average mobile customer in Switzerland pays 30.69 euros per month compared to 19.49 euros in the EU.
