OTE, Wind demanding clarification of VDSL policy

Greek incumbent telco OTE has demanded further clarification from the telecoms regulator, the EETT, on its recent implementation of a decision obliging OTE to give wholesale VDSL broadband access to rivals for six months. The query follows at least one altnet, Wind Hellas, requesting an explanation of the decision to impose wholesale obligations on VDSL network services for the limited initial period. In its announcement of 18 September 2012, the EETT approved the retail VDSL services of OTE while simultaneously obliging it to offer the respective products wholesale to altnets to ensure the ability of all market players to provide similar services, adding that it will review the situation after six months. At that point the regulator said it ‘will reconsider, based on actual data, the impact of the relevant service market, redefining, if necessary, the technical conditions for the availability and pricing of these services.’ However, the statement and accompanying conditions appear to have created uncertainty amongst Greek broadband operators. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database recalls that OTE was forced to suspend VDSL services in March 2011 while the regulator developed a framework for regulating VDSL and FTTx last mile access, and in December that year the EETT approved wholesale rates for VDSL, although without mentioning direct fibre wholesale access tariffs. The decision ostensibly said that OTE would be permitted to relaunch retail VDSL services by mid-2012 if its network was ready to provide wholesale VDSL.