Ref: 33/03
Date: 5 June 2003

Oftel has today set out proposals to continue with the current arrangements for the provision of conditional access services under the new EC regulatory regime.

Oftel currently requires providers of conditional access services - only Sky Subscribers Services Ltd (SSSL) at present - to do so on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.

The EC communications directives, that are due to be adopted by 25 July 2003, also require that conditional access services are offered in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory way.

Conditional access services allow broadcasters to supply their television programmes only to customers who are entitled to watch them, for example, viewers who have paid for subscription services. They can include encryption, subscriber authorisation and subscriber management services.

Oftel's proposals are subject to a consultation which runs until 7 July 2003.

Notes to Editors:

1. The future regulation of conditional access has been published today and is available on Oftel's website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/eu_directives/2003/ca0603.htm. Hard copies are available to the media from Oftel's Press Office, telephone 020 7634 8991, and to the public from Oftel's Research and Information Unit, telephone 020 7634 8761.

2. The new EU Directives were passed in April 2002 and should be implemented in member states by 25 July 2003. Separate economic markets are the subject of individual reviews to assess the level of competition and set the appropriate level of regulation if markets are not competitive (see www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/eu_directives/index.htm).