Competitive tender for the universal service licence in telecommunications
Berne, 10.10.2006 - The Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) is launching the competitive tender for the new universal service licence. The licence will cover the entire national territory and will run for 10 years from 1 January 2008. ComCom will award this licence by the end of June 2007. The invitation to tender will be published in the Federal Journal on 10 October.
ComCom is issuing a public call for tenders to determine which company will provide the basic telecommunication service throughout the whole of Switzerland for ten years from 1 January 2008. The licence currently granted to Swisscom will expire at the end of 2007. It should be noted that on 13 September 2006 the Federal Council defined the scope of the universal service for future years by way of an amendment to the decree on telecommunication services (see box below).
Tender documents
The tender document and its annexes can be obtained from the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) or are available as a download from the OFCOM website (http://www.bakom.admin.ch/).
The tender documents contain information on the content and obligations of the universal service licence and stipulate the terms and conditions for taking part in the present invitation to tender. They also describe the minimum conditions for the award, the selection criteria which will be applied if multiple candidates are in contention and the rules relating to the evaluation of possible financial compensation. Candidates have until 1 February 2007 to submit their candidature dossier to OFCOM.
Selection of the new universal service licensee
OFCOM will examine the candidature dossiers and ComCom will then designate the future licensee on the basis of the results of the evaluation.
The universal service licence is normally granted to the candidate who best satisfies the criteria on which the decision is based and who does not claim any financial compensation. If all the candidates apply for compensation, the licence is granted to the candidate whose bid features the best balance between the proposed services and the amount of compensation required. If no appropriate candidate emerges, or if only a single candidate applies, it will be up to ComCom to designate a licensee. It will award the new licence by the end of June 2007.
Amended content of the universal service from 2008
Broadband
The connections currently available as part of the universal service have been supplemented by a new type of connection permitting internet access at a minimum transmission rate of 600/ 100 Kbit/s.
Additional services for people with disabilities
In addition to the transcription service, an SMS switching service and a directory and switching service for people with limited mobility will be included in the universal service obligations.
Public call boxes
Despite the spectacular growth in mobile telephony, the obligation to provide a specific number of public call boxes will be maintained.
Cancellation of various services
The directory enquiries service, call diversion and advice of charge have been removed from the obligations of the universal service.
Address for enquiries
Marc Furrer, ComCom President, ComCom Secretariat, 031 323 52 90
Publisher
Federal Communications Commission ComCom
http://www.comcom.admin.ch/
