Disagreements have arisen between the EC and Lithuanian Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) over access to the Lithuanian incumbent telco TEO’s infrastructure.
As a result, reports VZ, ISPs and cable operators are unlikely to secure access to the infrastructure until at least the end of this year, rather than July, as had previously been hoped.
The differences revolve round the definition of markets: while the CRA sees copper and fibre networks as separate, the EC believes they should be placed in one market and regulated together. The CRA is now reviewing its stance and will open a public consultation that will last for at least two months.
TEO is in favour of having its fibre network, in which it has invested heavily, regulated separately. In its view, opening it up to competitors will decrease incentives to invest further in the infrastructure.
The Lithuanian cable association LKTA has meanwhile criticised TEO and believes the dispute with Brussels could take at least one and a half years to resolve.
