Oftel lifts Market influence designations in mobile market

Oftel has removed the determinations that Vodafone and BT Cellnet had Market Influence (MI) under condition 56 of their respective licences.

The determinations that Vodafone and BT Cellnet had MI, made in April 2001, triggered additional obligations in their respective licences. Under the additional conditions, Vodafone and BT Cellnet were required to supply independent service providers on a non-discriminatory basis, provide separate regulatory accounts and publish charges terms and conditions for service.

Following from the conclusions of the Effective competition review: Mobile published in September 2001, Oftel published Notices of its intention to remove the MI determinations in December 2001. After a three-month statutory consultation, Oftel confirmed its view that the MI determinations were no longer appropriate, and so published the determinations to remove them.

The effect of the determinations, published on 5 April, was to de-trigger the additional obligations in Vodafone's and BT Cellnet's respective licences.

Removing this regulation will enable the operators to provide more competitive and innovative access arrangements to independent service providers.

For further information contact Chris Handley (tel: 020 7634 8863 / e-mail chris.handley@oftel.gov.uk).