Re: European Internet Infrastructure- France Telecom's Last Mile Monopoly
Thread- I got a little chuckle out of the word, "soon." I suppose it's all relative but soon won't be soon enough for a lot of European customers. As I've said many times upstream, Europe is going through the same pains at the United States has gone through. This is an example of them following what we have already done, years ago.
I can only say, hopefully it will go quicker for them since they have the USA as a model of the thousands of things that can go wrong when deregulation is applied to a former monopoly. -MikeM(From Florida)
PS1 The French government needs money and I don't think their citizens are too keen on paying even higher taxes. So the government selling off their ownership in France Telecom may happen soon. If so, then the REAL games can begin, a la USA.
PS2 I think French example debate is a result of Davos. See: Message 12751483 ...for more details.
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France to Act Soon on Local Loop, Internet Bills
By Sophie Walker, Reuters
17 March 2000- French Industry Secretary Christian Pierret said on Friday the government would act soon on legislation to unbundle local loop telephone services and clarify jurisdiction on the Internet.
Speaking at Rennes University in northern France, Pierret said a draft law giving private telephone operators access to local loop services would be presented to parliament "very soon", and should be in force at the start of 2001.
Private telecommunications companies in France have long been pushing for legislation to end incumbent operator France Telecom's monopoly of the local loop, the "last mile" of phone cable linking operators directly to end users.
On Tuesday, AFOPT, the association of private telecommunications operators, said France was in danger of missing out on the technological revolution because Internet access remained costly and slow while competitors to France Telecom, in which the state holds a 62 percent stake, were cut out of the market.
Pierret also said that he and Finance Minister Christian Sautter would present a bill aimed at tackling legal problems posed by the growth of the "new economy" to ministers in the autumn.
"This project is centred on three aims - freedom of communication, access to the largest number of networks, and security of online transactions designed to boost users' confidence and promote transparency," Pierret said.
Security of payment is a hot topic in France, following recent media reports that a formula existed to crack security codes on millions of bank cards fitted with "smart" chips.
Pierret said a public consultation on the Internet bill had thrown up several questions about safeguarding consumers online, given the growing popularity of web auctions and other transactions.
His trip to Rennes was part of government efforts to promote an "Internet Festival" this week, aimed at increasing awareness of the Web and showing people how to use it.
Pierret also unveiled a new government study showing 10 percent of the French population was now hooked up to the Web, with a further 19 percent intending to do so in 2000. |
