Press Release: Digital Agenda: Commission questions Italian regulator’s method of regulating prices for broadband services

The European Commission has invoked the EU review mechanism in the case of plans by the Italian telecoms regulator (AGCOM) to change current wholesale broadband prices, as such changes would negatively affect operators' ability to plan and decide on their prices in Italy.

More specifically, the Commission has concerns that AGCOM's recent decision to set 2013 prices based on its previous market review contradicts its own announcement of October 2012 that new prices will result from the new market analysis. This is all the more unexpected given that AGCOM has been consulting in parallel the results of its new market review which it launched already in September 2012. As access prices should reflect most recent available cost information, the Commission believes that AGCOM should have set the prices on the basis of its more recent and reliable full market analysis. The Commission, in close cooperation with BEREC will, over the next three months, discuss with AGCOM how to amend its proposal.