News Archive

Market analysis under consultation

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The  implementation of the Electronic Communications Act requires substantial work by PTA, particularly regarding ananlysis of the elctronic communications markets. All countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to adopt the same regulatory approach, in order to harmonise rules of play. The results of PTAs market analysis are expected to further support the development of the Icelandic e-communications market towards harmonisation with the European market, as defined by e-communications law. In July 2005 the first drafts on analysis of telecom market nr. 15 and nr. 16, as defined by EU directives, were sent for consultation with interested parties in Iceland .

Síminn ltd. sold - Telecom privatization completed

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The former state owned telephone company Síminn ltd. – the incumbent actor in fixed and mobile networks in Iceland - has been sold for 67 billion ISK (a little over 1 billion USD) to a multitude of investors gathered under the name Skipta ltd. An agreement on the sale was signed August 5th 2005. The privatization has been under way for years. A spread ownership was a condition for the sale and the new owners consists of privat companies, banks and funds. A share of the payment is assigned for implementation of a new telecom policy statement for 2005-2010.

Fair prices for universal service

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A new PTA study reveals that prices for public telephone and directory service (118) are competitive in Iceland, compared to other European countries. Prices for calls from public telephones are under average in comparison with other Nordic countries and a 1 minute call to a directory service is cheaper in Iceland than in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. In the light of these results PTA´s sees for a time being no reason to decide maximum prices for universal service. General prices for mobile telephone service are also fairly low in Iceland compared to other Nordic and OECD-countries. (August 24th 2005)