Press Release: Telecoms: Commission urges Ofcom to take stronger action on fixed termination rates

The European Commission called on the UK regulatory authority for telecommunications, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), to impose appropriate price control and non-discrimination obligations on all communication providers regarding their fixed termination rates (FTRs). FTRs are the wholesale prices which fixed operators charge for terminating calls on their respective networks. Non-discrimination obligations for alternative providers are necessary to ensure that they apply equivalent conditions in equivalent circumstances. In line with the Commission's Recommendation on Termination Rates, an effective price control obligation leading to cost oriented termination rates is the most appropriate way to address the competition problems in this market.