The Polish Chamber of Electronic Communications (Polska Izba Komunikacji Elektronicznej, PIKE) has hit out at plans by the country’s telecoms regulator to force cablecos to open up their networks to rival firms. The Office of Electronic Communications (Urzad Komunikacji Elektronicznej, UKE) wants six cable operators – Netia, UPC, Multimedia Polska, Vectra, INEA and Toya – to provide wholesale access to other telcos, including incumbent fixed line operator Orange Polska. PIKE claims that the move would hamper investment in the cable sector, have a negative effect on competition and lead to less choice for consumers.
Broadband TV News cites Jerzy Straszewski, president of PIKE, as saying: ‘The currently proposed regulation of access to cables goes across infrastructural competition, degrades business models based on wholesale, commercial access to infrastructure, discourages investment in modern infrastructure and deepens the infrastructural backwardness of our country, to the detriment of the entire economy. PIKE indicates that the proposed regulations will lead to the discrimination of cable operators, their clients and technology, and asks the president of UKE to call for a sound analysis of the effects of regulation and to give up far-reaching and harmful solutions for the market and consumers.’