ECTA Board furious as the ITU excludes new trade organisation from participating at TELECOM '99
Sep. 1999
The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) Board Furious
as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Excludes the New Trade
Organisation from Participating at TELECOM ’99.
Often described as the ‘Olympics’ of telecommunications, the four-yearly
exhibition is one of Europe’s largest telecommunications trade events. The
ITU shocked ECTA (a trade association representing nearly 240 member
companies) by refusing ECTA’s participation at Telecom’99 in Geneva. In less
than two years, ECTA has become the largest telecommunications carrier
association in Europe representing new entrant companies that compete with
Europe’s former state owned monopolies.
According to Robert J. Dombkowski, Chairman of the Board for ECTA, "The ITU
has recently proclaimed that it is ‘imperative to adapt (itself) to respond
better to the changing nature of the telecommunications environment and
particularly, to respond to the challenge posed by the greater dynamism,
creativity and competitivity of a number of new partners.’ Sadly, the ITU’s
discrimination towards ECTA and our members indicates that the ITU will
‘respond to’ the voice of the industry with fruitless denial rather than a
supportive embrace."
Michael Potter, ECTA’s Vice Chairman and founder of Esprit Telecom, added:
"Everyone knows that the ITU has been controlled for over 130 years by nation
states and their monopoly phone companies. By ITU attacking ECTA they are not
only attacking European consumers but the 240 new entrant phone companies
that have been responsible for the introduction of new services and driving
down costs in Europe."
ECTA alleges that the ITU refusal is unreasoned, discriminatory and
inconsistent with the ITU’s own statutes ? all issues on which the ITU are
remaining steadfastly silent despite numerous requests for an explanation
from ECTA and it’s lawyers. According to ECTA’s Executive Director, Elizabeth
Schumacher, ECTA was told in advance by a well placed ‘third party’ that
their Telecoms ’99 application would be refused due to ECTA’s position in the
market as a strong ‘competitor’ to the ITU. Ms. Schumacher noted " the fact
that the ITU perceives ECTA as opposition rather than colleagues working
together toward a similar goal is quite telling. Perhaps the ITU and it’s
members do not share the same ideals pertaining to liberalisation of the
European market."
ECTA has made their position quite clear. They will continue to act in the
best interest of their members and the competitive telecommunications
industry. "ECTA has only just begun" says Dombkowski. "Actions such as the
ITU’s decision, which reflect a desire to maintain the status quo of days
gone by, only serve to reinforce the mission of ECTA and our committed
pursuit of a truly competitive telecommunications industry in Europe."
Additional background information:
ECTA (the European Competitive Telecommunications Association)
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