OPTA sets final interconnection tariffs for 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999

Every year OPTA sets the provisional interconnection tariffs for the period ahead and finalises those for the past period. These are the tariffs which KPN may charge its competitors for using its network. At the end of November OPTA set the provisional tariffs for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. At the time OPTA indicated that a separate decision would follow in respect of the final tariffs for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.

If the interconnection tariffs for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 had been finalised on the basis of a strict application of the model used until now, they would have increased sharply as a result, which would have resulted in substantial additional charges for KPN’s competitors. OPTA believes that this is not reasonable. In its decision OPTA also took into consideration that there was a shortage of interconnections in 1998. Since KPN’s competitors were unable to process their telephone calls without disruption owing to the capacity shortfall, OPTA believes that it is unreasonable to present them with increased tariffs after the fact.

OPTA wishes to change the present system which constitutes the basis for the determination of the interconnection tariffs. This should have the effect of ensuring that the charges cannot be raised afterwards any longer and that the interconnection tariffs will be predictable for a longer period of time.