The European Commission has given the go ahead to proposals by the French telecoms regulator ARCEP to maintain regulatory obligations on the incumbent TV transmission services operator TDF.
The legislation allows for third party providers to gain access to sites situated in areas where the construction of second masts would be difficult to replicate. The Commission has told ARCEP that it should closely monitor whether the TDF-owned sites could be replicated to ensure that regulatory obligations imposed on TDF can continue to be justified.
“I fully support the view of ARCEP that the current level of competition in the French TV transmission services market needs to be preserved. This can be accomplished by maintaining and refining the conditions under which TDF gives access to masts and sites that are difficult to replicate to operators who provide transmission services.,” said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes
In particular, in the light of the ambitious roll out of digital terrestrial transmission in France, TV broadcasters or operators of multiplexes will also in the future be able to select the transmission service provider that makes the best offer in terms of quality and price.”
EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding commented that Alternative broadcasting operators in the French market need more time to secure their position as competitors to TDF.
