Swiss regulator ComCom has rejected a request from alternative operator Sunrise to order virtual unbundled access (VULA) on the Swisscom network. The regulator lacks the means to implement such a regulation, but said Parliament could act under the ongoing review of the Telecommunications Act. Lawmakers could introduce an obligation for an operator exerting significant market power to provide technology-neutral and virtual access to local loop.
In February, Sunrise submitted a petition for a regulated virtual unbundled local loop access (VULA). VULA is an alternative to physical unbundling and resembles a bitstream offer. VULA also enables a hybrid connection, consisting of fibre-optic and copper cable.
ComCom has rejected the request of Sunrise, as in the current Telecommunications Act there is no legislative basis for the implementation of unbundling and only access over copper wires is regulated. However, ComCom finds it necessary to update the legislation, so that competition can be stimulated also for hybrid connections, consisting of copper and fibre-optic lines. Therefore ComCom recommends to the Parliament, to introduce such possibility within the review of the Telecommunications Act.
Swisscom is deploying fibre-optic lines up to the home. Old copper cables were used for the last 50 - 200 metres to apartments. Thanks to the new transmission methods, such as vectoring or G.fast, Swisscom can offer to its customers high speed rates even on the copper sections of the connections.
