France Telecom opposes Reding plan

European Union Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding is scheduled by early next week to file a completed proposal for a new pan-European telecom regulatory body, but French ILEC France Telecom is getting a jump on things by speaking out this week against the proposal.

The new EU body likely would force structural separation of incumbent telcos across Europe, and France Telecom says that will work against the EU's aims by actually discouraging future network investment. Reding's plan has drawn criticism from several carriers and even within the upper reaches of the EU, and you can bet that network equipment vendors who have been reporting declines in carrier spending also oppose the plan. More details to come next week.

For more:
- The International Herald Tribune has the Associated Press story