WRITTEN QUESTION No. 555/97 by Monica BALDI to the Commission. Mobile telephony
Date: 1997-02-19
Institutions: BALDI, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, competition, consumer protection, liberalisation of the market, provision of services, radio telecommunications, trade licence, waveband













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91997E0555

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 555/97 by Monica BALDI to the Commission. Mobile telephony  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0113 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0555/97 by Monica Baldi (UPE) to the Commission (19 February 1997)Subject: Mobile telephonyThe mobile telephony market has yet to be fully liberalized. This situation is penalizing users, in that the services provided are of a lower quality than they would be in a truly competitive environment.It is quite common for the clerical departments of mobile telephony companies to demand proof of payment of bills which have been settled a long time earlier and, without further warning, to cut off the service over the weekend, thus unjustly depriving users of their phones.Would the Commission state:- what protection is available to European consumers if their telephone service is cut off arbitrarily and without justification (this applies in particular to GSM cellular services)?- what steps it intends to take with a view to protecting consumers, who have a right to a normal standard of service?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1997)The Commission is not aware of specific complaints regarding the disconnection during weekends of the service of either GSM (pan-European digital mobile cellular system) operator in Italy. These operators have mentioned problems caused by subscribers who, after a few months, cease to pay their bills.The grant of additional digital mobile telephony licences in Italy would be a strong incentive for the current operators to improve their relationship with their subscribers. In those mobile communications markets in Europe where competition is well developed with three or even four competing mobile operators, prices are driven down and operators are forced continuously to improve their service. The result is good quality service at low prices.Under Directive 90/388/EEC on competition in the markets for telecommunications services ((OJ L 192, 24.7.1990. )), as amended by Directive 96/2/EC of 16 January 1996 with regard to mobile and personal communications ((OJ L 20, 26.1.1996. )), Member States must abolish exclusive and special rights for the provision of mobile services and, in so far as frequencies are available, award licences according to open, non-discriminatory and transparent procedures. Where the frequencies available in the 900 MHz (Megahertz) band are insufficient to grant more than two mobile digital radiotelephony licences, the Member States must allocate frequencies in the 1880 MHz band for this purpose. Under Directive 96/2/EC Member States may not refuse to grant such licences at the latest by 1 January 1998. Italy informed the Commission in January 1996 that it would initiate a tender procedure for the selection of a DCS-1800 mobile telephony operator within a short period of time. This undertaking has recently been confirmed.Initiatives have been taken to improve consumer protection in the telecommunications sector both by national authorities, which have (for instance in the case of Belgium) appointed an ombudsman to deal with customers' complaints, and by the Commission, which has sponsored the establishment of a committee comprising Telecom Italia and consumer representatives.