TDC's cable TV network opened up to competitors

TDC shall provide access to their cable TV network for other broadband companies. That is decided by the National IT and Telecom Agency in a new decision on 22 December 2009.

The National IT and Telecom Agency has considered that TDC's control over both the copper network and Yousees cable TV network creates a special competition problem in the broadband market. The reason is that TDC has an economic incentive to upgrade only the unregulated infrastructure – the cable TV network – to the detriment of competitors. The cable TV network can provide a higher capacity than the copper network and without a regulated access, other companies are not able to offer consumers the same services as TDC. The decision means that TDC must open both the company's copper and cable television network to other broadband companies. This means that other operators will be able to compete with TDC on equal terms for broadband customers. Since TDC will meet the not inconsiderable cost of the establishment of a wholesale product on the cable TV network, the National IT and Telecom Agency consideres it important to ensure that the obligation will only have effect in practice when there is a specific request for access, and there has been created clarity about what the price will be. Therefore access will not have effect until the wholesale price of broadband via the cable TV network is determined, and TDC has implemented the necessary systems, etc. As a result of TDC's acquisition of DONG Energy's fiber network the National IT and Telecom Agency will conduct a separate, subsequent investigation of the acquisition impact on competition. In this context it will be assessed to what extent there is a need to also ensure regulated access to TDC's fiber network.