Ref: 03/02
Date: 11 January 2002

A review of the way Oftel collects and publishes market information from the telecoms industry has been launched today by Oftel.

Increasing competition has made market analysis much more complicated, but Oftel needs accurate and up-to-date market information in order to decide whether regulatory action is necessary or not.

Oftel is seeking views from stakeholders on how its information gathering processes can be improved and how information can be collected from the industry in a faster way.

Oftel has suggested clearer rules on when it will start to collect information on a new market or service. It is also seeking views on whether more information should be gathered from service providers that do not have their own networks and are not necessarily subject to regulation.

Oftel will ensure that its data collection does not place unreasonable demands on the industry, and will review internal processes to ensure that requests for information are not duplicated.

Oftel is also reviewing its rules for publishing information collected from the industry.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said:

"As competition develops and regulatory decision marking becomes more complex, it becomes increasingly important for Oftel to have up-to-date information at its fingertips.

"For example, market information enables Oftel to calculate operators' market shares which is an important factor for assessing competition in a market.

"Reviewing and refining the way Oftel collects data will ensure that Oftel’s decision making is robust.

"At the same time Oftel needs to ensure that the costs to industry remain proportionate. Oftel welcomes industry views on how this can be achieved."

"Oftel considers that the publication of the data collected is key to ensuring transparency in its decision making process and also welcomes views from stakeholders on how publication of industry data can be improved."

Notes to editors

1 Developing a strategic approach to market information is published on Oftel’s website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/market_info/mico0102.htm. Hard copies are available to the media from Oftel’s Press Office on 020 7634 8991 and to the public from Oftel’s Research and Information Unit on 020 7634 8761.

2 A summary of the latest market information is also available on Oftel’s website at http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/market_info/index.htm.