Section 79: Market power determinations
201.Subsection (1) provides that before making a determination that a person has SMP, OFCOM must first identify the markets in which they consider it will be appropriate to carry out a market analysis and then carry out that analysis. When identifying appropriate services markets and when making SMP determinations in relation to a services market, OFCOM are obliged to take due account of all relevant European Commission guidelines and recommendations - the first such recommendation was published by the European Commission on 11 February 2003: the recommendation can be viewed on the European Commission website (http://europa.eu.int/information_society/topics/telecoms/regulatory/maindocs/documents/recomen.pdf). The way in which a market is to be identified or a market determination made is by the publication of a notification under subsection (4). This section implements Articles 15 and 16 of the Framework Directive. The Electronic Communications (Market Analyses) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/330) empower Oftel to carry out market analyses and to make proposals for market power determinations and the setting of conditions in advance of the passing of the Act. Paragraph 10 of Schedule 18 to the Act provides that proposals confirmed under those Regulations have effect under this section and other relevant sections after the provisions of the Act have been commenced.
