Organizers:
MIPRO and the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries - HAKOM
Manager:
Ana Katalinić Mucalo (Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries - HAKOM, Zagreb)
Contact Person:
Ana Katalinić Mucalo, ana.katalinic@hakom.hr (Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries - HAKOM, Zagreb)
Moderator:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries - HAKOM
Key Note Speakers:
HAKOM, representatives of operators, public administration bodies and industry
The Event Aims and Objectives:
For more than several years, “Market Day”, the event organized by the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM), has brought together representatives of stakeholders in the electronic communications, postal and rail services markets, as well as state administration bodies, the economy and the media The most important activities on the electronic communications market in the future were presented at this year’s event. The aim of the event was to encourage open discussion on some of the most attractive topics, and the focus was on the following topics:
1. Readiness of the Republic of Croatia for 5G?
By the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Croatia from January 2020, the Republic of Croatia has its own first 5G City – the city of Osijek, and in 2021 it is planned to assign the RF spectrum that will enable 5G service. Are we actually ready for 5G in Croatia? One of the open issues to be answered is the construction of infrastructure, including small cells deployment. What is the legislative framework? What are the possibilities and obligations related to the sharing infrastructure, i.e. co-financing the construction of the network? This question involves many stakeholders, from ministries and operators to representatives of local government. In addition, the issue of cyber security of 5G networks is also highlighted as one of the priority issues for 5G. What is the regulation on this issue and what should we expect? What role will HAKOM play?
Through the discussion and a series of short questions, participants had the opportunity to express their views and expectations regarding the introduction and regulation of 5G technology in the Republic of Croatia.
2. Wholesale terms and conditions for access to newly deployed networks
According to the announcements of intention to deploy optical distribution networks, by the end of 2023 operators plan to cover an additional 100,000 premises, out of which 75% will be covered by the end of 2021 according to the operator`s announced plans. Given the upward trend of announcing the deployment intention in 2019 which has continued with the beginning of 2020, it is expected that, in this period, the number of additional premises covered by FTTH will be even higher. At the end of 2019, the Rural Network Project (RUNE) started, which, in the Republic of Croatia it has been carried out by RUNE Crow d.o.o. The RUNE project was initiated with the aim of providing ultra-fast open broadband optical infrastructure for users in rural areas of Croatia (Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria County), and beside Croatia it includes Slovenia as well. In addition, the evaluation of projects under the public call for grants “Deployment of Next Generation Networks (NGN)/next generation access networks (NGA) in white NGA areas” is under way and the realization of these projects is expected to cover about 240,000 premises by the end of 2023. Currently, operators mainly use regulated wholesale services of access to HT’s broadband infrastructure as an operator with significant market power. However, given the investments of other market players, whose networks largely do not overlap, the question arises as to how many operators plan to use wholesale access from other operators? What challenges do they see here? In this sense, how do they see existing and possible future (amended or upgraded) symmetric access obligations? What possibilities do they see with the implementation of the new Code given the obligations related to co-investments in new very high capacity networks, as well as wholesale-only operators? To what extent are operators, who have not provided wholesale services so far, ready to implement the wholesale obligations they will have as aid beneficiaries for deploying of networks in white areas? What challenges do they see in this sense?
Through panel format and a series of short questions, participants had the opportunity to express their views regarding the use of wholesale access conditions for newly deployed networks.
3. Transparency of the terms of use of public communications services
End users of services are in the focus of HAKOM`s activities, and the recognition and promotion of the interests of end users is one of the key activities of HAKOM and should be the key activity of each operator.
Satisfied customers and their trust generate a greater dynamics of service use and market development.
Transparency has proven to be an important tool in protecting users, in particular in preventing unfair commercial practices. Educated and informed user is the best obstacle to misleading in advertising, selling or contracting, so it is important to maximize transparency of the conditions of use of public communication services, especially through:
- Providing clear and transparent information on all conditions of the usage of public communications services and their charging with special emphasis on the sufficient level of transparency, simplicity and user orientation of the operator`s website;
- Transparent and simple contracting and termination of contracted services, including all channels of sale of services;
- Control of the implementation of users` rights, i.e. obligations of operators in relation to transparency and provision of information during the contracting and termination of services, while encompassing all sales channels.
Through panel discussions, participants had the opportunity to express their views, and tried to answer the main question, how to improve and simplify the provision of information about the conditions of use of services, prevent the provision of misleading information, or how to effectively improve the information of users of public communication services about their rights and obligations.
The topics that were covered within the short introduction to the panel are the legislative framework (ECA and subordinate legislation …), examples of non-transparency in communication channels and conclusions for improvement.
