Vanuatu, Advisory to Telecom Regulator, 2011-2013

Under a two-year contract, Nathan Associates is advising the Vanuatu Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) on a host of regulatory issues. Among other matters, we will be advising on the drafting of competition and consumer protection guidelines, the investigation of alleged abuse of dominant position by a major telecom service provider, and  new numbering policies. In August 2011, TRR published competition guidelines produced  by Nathan economist Dr. Bruno Viani and legal adviser Laura Sherman. The guidelines

• Define the telecommunications market, assessing demand and supply side substitution (the SSNIP test) and providing a geographic market definition
• Describe determination of dominance
• Describe behaviors that may be anticompetitive
• Define abuse of dominance, and
• Describe the process for lodging and assessing complaints.