Polish regulator imposes MTR cuts

Polish telecoms regulator UKE has announced plans to slash mobile termination rates (MTR) for operators in the country, in line with directives from the European Commission.

T-Mobile Poland, Orange Poland and Polkomtel will have their MTR rates cut by 33 per cent at the beginning of 2013, from 0. 1223 zlotys ($0.04) per minute to 0.0826 zlotys per minute. A further 48 per cent reduction will be imposed in July 2013 to bring MTR rates down further to 0.0429 zlotys per minute.

The remaining operators will also have their MTR rates slashed, as they currently charge higher termination rates as part of an effort from the regulator to encourage competition in a market dominated by the top three.  T-Mobile Poland, Orange Poland and Polkomtel are currently on course to hold around 83 per cent market share between them by December 2012, according to forecasts from Informa’s WCIS.

“The President of UKE intends to introduce a symmetrical MTR from the beginning of 2013, therefore, all the mobile operators in Poland will be required to apply the same MTR,” explained a UKE spokesman.

He added that the body has begun a round of consultations with operators of its draft decisions and intends to issue a decision for the country’s seven operators by the end of this year.