Swisscom to retain universal service obligation
Bern, 16.05.2023 - The Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) has decided to award Swisscom the universal service licence for the period from 2024 to end-2031. This ensures that the expanded service offering defined by the Federal Council will be implemented.
ComCom decided to re-award the licence for the nationwide universal service to Swisscom from 2024 for a period of eight years. A survey of interest among the largest providers on the Swiss market potentially capable of delivering the universal service found Swisscom to be the only one interested in fulfilling the universal service obligation for telecommunications. Any invitation to tender for the universal service licence for the period from 2024 would therefore not be held under competitive conditions. In such a situation, ComCom is authorised under the Telecommunications Act (Art. 14 TCA) to designate the universal service provider.
On 16 December 2022, the Federal Council approved the revised Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (OTS), which defines the scope of universal service for telecommunications from 2024 (cf. press release Faster internet for universal service). Starting next year, universal service subscribers will be able to choose between the previous download/upload speeds of 10/1 Mbps and a faster option of 80/8 Mbps.
The principle of subsidiarity will explicitly apply, i.e. if an equivalent solution already exists on the market at a given location, the universal service obligation is considered fulfilled at that location and the licensee is not required to offer the 80/8 Mbps universal service option. Moreover, universal service is delivered on the basis of technology neutrality. This means that the universal service licensee may opt for mobile or satellite solutions if necessary to fulfil its obligation.
Address for enquiries
ComCom Secretariat, phone +41 58 463 52 90
Publisher
Federal Communications Commission ComCom
http://www.comcom.admin.ch/