EUROPEAN CALENDAR
FOR LIBERALISATION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR

1984 Decision to begin work on a Green Paper on the role of telecommunications in the construction of Europe

1986 Adoption of the Single European Act

1987 Publication by the European Commission of the Green Paper on European telecommunications

16 May 1988 Directive allowing for competition for terminals, including telephones

7 December 1989 Under French presidency, decision by the European Council of ministers to progressively open most telecommunications services to competition, with reservation of the exclusive and special rights on the telephone service between fixed points and on the public infrastructures.

28 June 1990 ONP and « services » directives allowing for competition for telecommunications services except the telephone service.

1 January 1993 Competition in the data transmission services domain.

16 June 1993 Decision by the European Council of ministers to widen competition to all telecommunications services from 1 January 1998.

17 November 1994 Decision by the European Council of ministers to extend competition to infrastructures from 1 January 1998.

16 January 1996 Directive allowing for competition on mobile telephony (liberalised in France since 1987).

13 March 1996 Directive modifying the « services » directive to draw up the calendar and conditions for the extension of competition

1 July 1996 Competition for alternative infrastructures.

1 January 1998 Competition for the telephone service open to the public and the set up of underlying infrastructures.