Regulation

The European institutions and increasingly other regulatory authorities are increasingly requiring the preparation of impact assessments before major new legislation or policies are adopted. Impact assessment involves developing intervention logic linking the identified problems to different possible solutions, and assessing which solution will best deliver effective results, while being cost efficient and coherent with other measures. Assessing impacts on different stakeholders as well as wider socio-economic and environmental impacts is also often required. WIK-Consult has conducted impact assessments on key EU legislation affecting telecoms and digital markets. In this context, we have experience with conducting consultation exercises and surveys and using quantitative as well as qualitative techniques including cost benefit analysis to assess the impact of different policy options.  WIK-Consult can also support in the process of monitoring implementation (including the development and collection of data on monitoring indicators) and evaluating legislation and policy measures in according with the principles of “Better Regulation” in order to identify whether improved enforcement or policy changes would help to achieve better outcomes.

The regulation of charges for wholesale products was a cornerstone of regulation when telecommunications markets were opened and is still important today in the regulation of companies with significant market power.

Our analytical cost models (bottom-up) as well as models for the verification of margin squeeze tests have played a key role in many regulatory decisions in Germany and Europe over the last 25 years. With our deep expertise on telecom network costs, we have been able to assist regulators in addressing evolving requirements in this area.