Austria (country regulation overview)

Austria's fixed-line and mobile broadband segments have seen significant activity in 2009. The local loop unbundling prices were down almost 32% following the settlement of Telekom Austria's dispute with an alternative operator. To further broadband growth, the Austrian government has also initiated plans to expand broadband networks to the rural regions of the country in collaboration with the regulator (Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH). While currently in the assessment stage, the planned deployment of a fibre-optic network is expected to be a key growth driver for bundled and converged services in the country going forward.

In addition to fixed broadband, the regulator is also focusing on enhancing wireless broadband services. To this effect, it has allocated frequencies in 3.5GHz range for broadband wireless access services in August 2009. It also initiated a consultation process for the allocation of frequencies in the 2.6GHz range and the auction is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2010. Access to new spectrum will likely enhance the speed and capacity of wireless broadband services, driving its future growth.

Interconnect has remained a strong focus area over the past year. In March 2009, the regulator initiated a consultation process to set future fixed wholesale charges using a capacity-based charging system as an alternative to the current time-based charging. In mobile, the regulator has outlined a glidepath to reduce mobile termination charges by approximately 55% during the period 2009–11.. Reductions in termination costs as well as changes in wholesale charging methodology are expected to improve pricing flexibility for fixed operators, and result in reduced prices for consumers.

• Overview
• Ovum view
• Fixed market overview
• Broadband market
• Mobile market overview
• National regulatory authority
• Competition authority
• Key legislation and regulation
• Acts
• Ordinances
• Current status of market analysis
• Mobile licensing
• 3G licences
• Allocation of GSM frequencies in 450MHz range
• Allocation of frequencies in 26GHz range
• Allocation of frequencies in 3.5GHz range
• Retail regulation
• VoIP
• Ex-post price control
• Wholesale fixed regulation
• Fixed voice interconnection
• Services subject to regulation
• Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
• Cost model for RIO
• Wholesale access
• Wholesale line rental
• Local loop unbundling
• Wholesale broadband services
• Government support for broadband expansion
• Wholesale mobile regulation
• Services subject to regulation
• National roaming
• Mobile-to-fixed termination
• Fixed-to-mobile termination
• Basis for setting mobile termination charges
• Mobile number portability
• Competition cases
• Current cases
• Universal service
• Universal service obligation
  • Appendix
• The EC's market definitions
• List of Tables
  • Table 1: Austria: mobile market information (1Q09)
  • Table 2: 3.5GHz auction results (2009)
  • Table 3: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
  • Table 4: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
  • Table 5: Glidepath: mobile call termination 2009–11
  • Table 6: The EC's definition of seven markets to be analysed
• List of Figures
  • Figure 1: Fixed lines in Austria
  • Figure 2: Fixed broadband access lines in Austria
  • Figure 3: Mobile customers in Austria