The Portuguese regulatory authority ANACOM today released its conclusions (reached in the board meeting of 22 Jan 2004) following a public consultation on the possible introduction of Wholesale Line Rental (Oferta de realugar da linha de assinante - ORLA).

Contributions were received from:

• PT Comunicações, the fixed incumbent network operator.
• APRITEL, the association of telecommunications operators.
• Fixed new entrant operators ONI, NOVIS and Jazztel.

The new entrant operators requested the mandation of wholesale line rental, accompanied by other obligations, such as the publication of a reference offer, detailed quality of service obligations, etc. PT Comunicações opposed the notion of wholesale line rental, and the associated obligations discussed.

ANACOM decided not to mandate wholesale line rental at this time, but to consider the matter in the context of the market definition, market analysis and SMP designation process that as been initiated under the new regulatory framework.

ANACOM's conclusions, and summary of the results of the public consultation, can be accessed by clicking here.