The CNMC asks to reward higher speed and affordable prices in the universal service tender

The concept of universal service in the world of telecommunications has changed.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
22 December 2022 Thursday 04:33
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The CNMC asks to reward higher speed and affordable prices in the universal service tender

The concept of universal service in the world of telecommunications has changed. The booths or telephone books that the company in charge of maintaining the universal service had to offer up to now go down in history. As of 2023, the framework changes with the entry into force of the new General Telecommunications Law and with the termination of the contract for the presentation of this service by Telefónica.

In January, the State must launch a new tender and the National Markets and Competition Commission, after analyzing the text of the new law, proposes that this new universal service focus on some of the aspects that users now demand the most. From the technical point of view, an adequate connection speed, from the social point of view, affordable prices and payment facilities for the most vulnerable users.

Specifically, in the assessment of the legal text that will enter into force next year, after the end of the current contract with Telefónica, it is stated that the operator that provides the service must guarantee a minimum connection speed of 10 megabits per second ( Mbps), what the regulator suggests is that the Government reward those who offer a higher service at this point in the service tender (the packages of the large operators in the free market have a minimum of 100 Mbps and exceed one gigabit in many of their offers).

In the CNMC recommendations report, there is the inclusion of obligations related to delay to guarantee two-way communications in real time and upload speed.

Specifically, the CNMC proposes that it be specified if this minimum speed is applicable to each and every one of the users or if some percentage of deviation is allowed and under what conditions said speed is guaranteed.

In addition, as is the case with the download speed, the CNMC believes that it is positive that some requirement for ascending speed is established and those proposals that offer higher transmission speeds are valued. Likewise, it is advisable to establish some requirement related to delay, to guarantee bidirectional communications in real time.

With the new law, the obligations regarding universal service affordability are extended to all operators that provide Internet access services and voice communication services, including the operator designated to provide universal service.

At the same time, the regulator has requested that it be remembered in the tender that the body has the capacity to supervise the provision and collection of the service, which must be provided at affordable prices.

The CNMC has also proposed that it consider incorporating some provision on the affordability of the Internet access service both for retirees and pensioners with low family income, as well as for certain groups (blind or severely visually impaired users and deaf or mute or severely impaired users). hearing or speech difficulties).

In addition, it has called for adding a clause that allows the provision of the service to be interrupted in the event that relevant aspects of the nature of the service are modified.