Under the European Commission Standards Directive, 83/189/EC, all member states are obliged to inform the European Commission of proposed new technical regulations. Recent regulations in the telecommunications area include the following. In Switzerland, two new technical regulations relating to standards for telecommunications terminal equipment have been published. One specification sets out minimum requirements for voice terminal equipment connected to the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network – PSTN – and leased lines. The other sets out those relating to PABX or similar terminal equipment. Both minima have to be satisfied before the equipment is permitted to be connected to the PSTN. In Sweden, the National Telecommunications Council has issued rules and regulations concerning the technical design of equipment for packet switch data transmissions on the PSTN, and various standards for the design of equipment to be connected to digital lines in the PSTN. In France, technical approval specifications have been published for the connection interface and frame structure for digital connection between private time division multiplex installations and automatic switchboards on the public network. Also, technical specifications on auto-dialling were issued, setting minimum standards to be complied with by all auto-dialling systems before gaining approval. Following the adoption of the satellite Green Paper by the Telecommunications Council in December, draft Directives are already in preparation to implement its recommendations. Expected soon are drafts on the liberalisation of the European satellite terminal market, including a provision for the mutual recognition of approvals for satellite terminal equipment. A proposal for the mutual recognition of licensing will be contained in another proposed Directive. A study is also due to be launched by the European Commission on the application of open network provision – the principles of which were set out in the ONP directive 90/387/EEC. The satellite study will look at the implications of authorisation for satellite news gathering in Europe; the impact of having competing space segments; and the possible admission of non-European competitors to the deregulated satellite markets. Other studies on the application of the ONP Directive include its application to metropolitan area network, its impact on ISDN interfaces and local loop telephony. The first Directive to be improved under the ONP principles, the Commission Proposal for a Directive on the application of Open Network Provision to leased lines 91/C/58/09, is expected to gain final approval in May. The Directive calls for transparent and non-discriminatory access to leased lines for all comers, the removal of any unjustifiable restrictions on the use of such lines and technical harmonisation across the systems of member states. Vicki Sinden, Baker & McKenzie.
