London Internet Exchange is a neutral peering point, which facilitates the interconnection between Internet backbone providers. LINX also performs some regulatory and public policy activities on behalf of its members. It aims to promote the interests of Internet Services Providers and campaign for safe use of the Internet in a competitive market. ISPA represents around 90 per cent of the UK dial-up market at present. It is an open consultation forum that provides for open policy debate.
Effective competition is the best regulator in most circumstances.
Where it is not present or, in some exceptional cases even if it is present but does not address specific consumer needs, then scope for self or co-regulation needs to be considered before there is a recourse to formal regulation. Self-regulation is initiated by stakeholders other than the regulator, involves both users and suppliers, needs to focus on outcomes of benefit to consumers and should be able to respond more rapidly to changing circumstances than formal regulation. Co-regulation, in contrast, involves the sectoral regulator in an active role initiating or facilitating action with other stakeholders. The following comments should therefore be taken in that context. In seeking to end the mainly monopoly provision of telecoms services in EU Member States, this package understandably focused primarily on opening markets to competition.