Stakeholders support Oftel's data collection process

Oftel published a statement outlining its future procedures for collecting regular data from the telecoms industry in July. The statement was published following consultation with stakeholders, who broadly supported Oftel's program of regular data collection from the industry.

Oftel will thus continue to collect information from the telecoms industry on a quarterly basis, enabling it to maintain a comprehensive evidence base and a complete statistical overview of UK telecoms market.

There will also be a number of changes to the process to reflect concerns raised during the consultation and recent market developments, particularly in the Internet and broadband markets. Oftel will also collect more detailed data on the fixed wholesale and interconnection markets.

At the same time, irrelevant or redundant information requirements have been removed, reducing the overall amount of data that Oftel needs to collect from the industry.

Oftel will also seek to capture data from a wider range of operators and service providers, particularly Internet service providers, within its regular data collection process. Oftel will also consider the possibility of using a sample-based approach to present a more complete overview of telecoms markets.

While the revised regular questionnaires are designed to capture the data that Oftel needs to complete its programme of market reviews for the implementation of the new EU directives, Oftel may need to collect extra data specifically to inform the review process. Oftel will ensure that any such requests are made with reference to existing data sources, to avoid duplication and ensure that costs to industry of data supply are minimised.

Oftel will also make a number of changes to its quarterly Market Information Update publications to make the contents more relevant for users.

For further information contact Nick Collins (020 7634 8851/e-mail: nicholas.collins@oftel.gov.uk)