Scope and definitions

1. This Sub-section sets out the principles of the regulatory framework for all electronic communication services liberalised pursuant to Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this Chapter excluding broadcasting.

2. For the purposes of this Sub-section and Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this Chapter:

(a) "electronic communication services" means all services consisting of the transmission and reception of electro-magnetic signals and are normally provided for remuneration, excluding broadcasting, which do not cover the economic activity consisting of the provision of content which requires telecommunications for its transport. Broadcasting is defined as the uninterrupted chain of transmission required for the distribution of television and radio programme signals to the general public, but does not cover contribution links between operators;

(b) "public communication network" means an electronic communication network used wholly or mainly for the provision of publicly available electronic communication services;

(c) "electronic communication network" means transmission systems and, where applicable, switching or routing equipment and other resources which permit the conveyance of signals by wire, by radio, by optical or by other electromagnetic means, including satellite networks, fixed (circuit- and packet-switched, including Internet) and mobile terrestrial networks, electricity cable systems, to the extent that they are used for the purpose of transmitting signals, networks used for radio and television broadcasting, and cable television networks, irrespective of the type of information conveyed;

(d) a "regulatory authority" in the electronic communication sector means the body or bodies charged with the regulation of electronic communication mentioned in this Chapter;

(e) a service supplier shall be deemed to have "significant market power" if, either individually or jointly with others, it enjoys a position equivalent to dominance, that is to say a position of economic strength affording it the power to behave to an appreciable extent independently of competitors, customers and ultimately consumers;

(f) "interconnection" means the physical and/or logical linking of public communication networks used by the same or a different service supplier in order to allow the users of one service supplier to communicate with users of the same or another service supplier, or to access services provided by another service supplier. Services may be provided by the parties involved or other parties who have access to the network. Interconnection is a specific type of access implemented between public network operators;

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(g) "universal service" means the set of services of specified quality that is made available to all users in the territory of a Party regardless of their geographical location and at an affordable price; its scope and implementation are decided by each Party;

(h) "access" means the making available of facilities and/or services, to another service supplier, under defined conditions, on either an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, for the purpose of providing electronic communication services. It covers, inter alia, access to network elements and associated facilities, which may involve the connection of equipment, by fixed or non-fixed means (in particular this includes access to the local loop and to facilities and services necessary to provide services over the local loop), access to physical infrastructure including buildings, cable ducts, and masts; access to relevant software systems including operational support systems, access to numbering translation or systems offering equivalent functionality, access to fixed and mobile networks, in particular for roaming, access to conditional access systems for digital televisions services; access to virtual network services;

(i) "end-user" means a user not providing public communication networks or publicly available electronic communication services;

(j) "local loop" means the physical circuit connecting the network termination point at the subscriber's premises to the main distribution frame or equivalent facility in the fixed public communication network.

Article 116

Дата добавления: 2015-09-06