WRITTEN QUESTION E-3538/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 December 1996)

Subject: OTE telecommunications programme for Greece under the 2nd CSF

The national section of the 2nd CSF for Greece provides funding for the development and modernization of telecommunications.

1. What programmes managed by the Greek Telecommunications Organization (OTE) are included in this area?

2. What was the take-up rate for funding per programme in 1994, 1995 and 1996?

3. Where there are delays in taking up the funding, what are the main reasons for this?

4. Is information available regarding the progress of the project?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (23 January 1997)

1. The telecommunications operational programme (1994-1999) adopted within the 2nd Community Support Framework for Greece comprises six subprogrammes, each consisting of several measures. Of these, the following are to be implemented under the responsibility of the Greek telecommunications organization (OTE):

- subprogramme 2: Improving the quality of services and providing a universal service.

The aim of this subprogramme is to modernize and improve the network infrastructure by creating digital rings in nine regions: Western Macedonia, Epirus, Eastern Macedonia, mainland Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly, the Northern Aegean islands, Western Greece and the Ionian islands.

- subprogramme 3: Introduction of new technologies and advanced services in the OTE network and the telecommunications environment as a whole.

The aim of this subprogramme is to encourage the introduction of the information society in Greece, especially the islands and peripheral regions. It comprises seven measures, six of which will be implemented under the responsibility of the OTE (provision of ISDN - integrated services digital network, ATM - asynchronous transmission mode - pilot applications, IN - intelligent network, studies and pilot applications of RITL - radio in the loop, FITL - fibre in the loop -, HDL - High bite rate digital subscribal loop -, TFTS - Terrestrial flight telecommunications system -, TMN - Telecommunication management of the network system).

- subprogramme 4: Reorganization of the OTE

The aim of this subprogramme's three measures is to modernize the organization, and radically transform its structure and way of working as a modern and competitive telecommunications business.

- subprogramme 5: Human resources

This subprogramme comprises six measures. Five of these will be implemented under the responsibility of the OTE and their aim is to provide the training needed for the OTE workforce owing to the rapid introduction of new telecommunications technologies and consumer requirements.

2. On the basis of information provided by the OTE at the first meeting of the telecommunications operational programme (Greece) monitoring committee (Athens, 5 December 1996) and subject to Commission approval of the eligibility of the projects under the responsibility of the OTE, the take-up rate was as follows: 1994-1995: 100%, 1996 (1/1-30/9): 37%.

3. There have been delays in taking up the funding for subprogrammes 3 and 4. According to the OTE, the main reasons for these delays are:

- for subprogramme 3: the nature of the projects relating to the development of new services (important, time-consuming definition and design stage), over-optimistic original timetable, delays in public contract procedures;

- for subprogramme 4: the nature of the projects, over-optimistic original timetable, delays in public contract procedures.

4. As regards progress on the physical content of the subprogrammes (1 April 1994 - 30 September 1996, compared with the total duration of the programme), the OTE has provided the following information:

- subprogramme 2: on average (estimate) 32%-41% (23% for the ring on mainland Greece);

- subprogrammes 3 and 5: specific data relating to the physical content of each measure implemented are available.