Cooperation would reduce costs
A study shows that Salt and Sunrise would be well advised to collaborate in certain areas.
The study conducted by the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) and the Communications Commission (ComCom) concludes that Salt and Sunrise could reduce their costs by up to a third. This is what Schweiz am Sonntag writes in its current issue.
The savings would be possible if the two providers were to share larger parts of their mobile networks. This is known as RAN (radio access network) sharing.
The joint use of antennas ("site sharing") is already practiced in Switzerland. This is mandatory in many places in order to keep the number of antennas low.
However, according to the study, the greatest cost savings - around one-third - would only be possible if the two providers operated and billed their networks jointly ("core network sharing").
However, this intensive cooperation is not recommended by the study authors, as it would be at the expense of competitive independence.
This is in stark contrast to RAN sharing, which is particularly recommendable for Salt and Sunrise, as it could save up to 40 percent of network costs. The study finds that network cooperation between the two "small players" - in contrast to the merger envisaged in 2010 - would promote competition.
The authors recommend more liberal legislation - because this is what has so far prevented far-reaching cooperation between Salt and Sunrise, which launched a pilot project on network sharing two years ago.
In response to a question from Schweiz am Sonntag, Bakom announced that the framework conditions for network sharing would be further developed as part of the revision of the Telecommunications Act. The study would be taken into account.
Both Salt, as well as Sunrise show a positive attitude towards the joint operation of network elements. (hae/SaS)
