BEREC, the association of European telecoms and digital regulators, is to kick off a two year programme of “frank and open dialogue” by holding two closed-door consultation sessions with Europe’s fixed, mobile and cable operators.
A preparatory session and then a full session, to be held on 12 April, will give an opportunity for “free and open debate and information exchange”, BEREC said, using the Chatham House rule. The session is not intended “as opportunities for participants to repeat well-known public lobbying lines” the regulatory body added.
The closed session kicks off a two year “strategic dialogue” BEREC wants to hold with the sector. The regulators also want to convene similar sessions with user groups, service providers, vendors and “other sector innovators”.
It said that it is crucial that its dialogue extends beyond those players “already in the game”.
So what will come of the discussions? BEREC has a statutory role as advisor to both national regulators and European institutions, and it wants its industry dialogue to complement the efforts of the national and European bodies. It wants the consultation to shape its annual work programme and longer term thinking.
One recent example (August 2011) of how BEREC can exert its influence is in its slapping down of EC proposals to open up the roaming market by allowing operators to offer consumers a “second line” roaming contract, known as the “dual-IMSI” solution.