Cable Europe: 'EC wrong to back Dutch open net'
February 12, 2009
Cable Europe, the industry representing Europe's cable industry, has expressed disappointment at a European Commission decision to allow the Dutch communications regulator, OPTA, to impose new regulatory rules on cable operators (See Daily News 11/02/09).
The Commission has effectively approved a move by the Dutch regulator to mandate cable operators to allow third party services on their networks. Caroline van Weede, Managing Director of Cable Europe, said: "The Dutch television and communications markets are among the most competitive in Europe and need no further regulation."
Cable companies in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe currently deliver their services to customers using their own networks, which Cable Europe says is a guarantee for innovation and the continued existence of strong competition. Cable Europe will monitor closely how the proposed measures will be applied in The Netherlands.