Policy Brief on the question whether data traffic-intensive over-the-top (OTT) providers should contribute to the network expansion costs of telecommunications companies

Policy Brief | Issue 12 | May 12, 2023

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the question whether data traffic-intensive over-the-top (OTT) providers should contribute to the network expansion costs of telecommunications companies. In its policy brief „A contribution from data traffic-intensive over-the-top (OTT) providers to the costs of telecommunications network expansion should be rejected!“ published today, the Monopolies Commission takes a critical view. Currently, the Monopolies Commission does not consider a regulatory intervention to be justified that forces OTT providers to pay telecommunications companies:

1. According to the current assessment of the Monopolies Commission, new conditions in peering and transit markets do not legitimize a contribution for network expansion costs, because it is not apparent that OTT providers exploit their increased bargaining power.
2. There are no indications that a redistribution mechanism between OTT providers and telecommunications companies would improve the market situation. However, such intervention may cause distortions of competition.
3. The financial resources for fixed and mobile network expansion are sufficient.

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Policy Brief on the planned hospital reform

Policy Brief | Issue 11 | February 13, 2023

In its policy brief published today, "Adjusting flat rates for hospitals, ensuring the need for care, maintaining competition," the Monopolies Commission supports the introduction of flat rates for hospitals proposed by the Hospital Commission. At the same time, it makes a significant proposal for changes that would make it possible to achieve the goals of financially securing hospitals' need for care and maintaining quality competition. The Monopolies Commission specifically recommends the following to the Federal Government/Länder Group, which is currently discussing the implementation of the announced financing reform:

1. tie the reserve budgets to structural differences in regional supply costs that cannot be influenced, and
2. test the compensation factors empirically by an expert opinion.

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Special Report 83 (in German language only)

Policy Brief on electricity markets

Policy Brief | Issue 10 | October 11, 2022

In its tenth policy brief, "Further Development of Electricity Markets, Designing a Price Cap in Conformity with Competition", the Monopolies Commission makes recommendations on the electricity price cap. The Monopolies Commission recommends that a response to price increases on the electricity market should be designed in a targeted manner and in line with the market:

1. The electricity market design should be retained but further developed in the medium term.
2. The cap for additional revenues (windfall profits) should - as far as possible - be carried out uniformly for conventional power generators, taking forward contracts into account.
3. The top priority in providing relief to consumers must be to avoid weakening incentives to save energy. At the same time, the neediness of the households to be relieved should be taken into account.

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Entrepreneur of the very first hour in Germany's digital economy Constanze Buchheim becomes a member of the Monopolies Commission

Berlin/Bonn, September 30, 2022

The German government has appointed entrepreneur Constanze Buchheim as a member of the Monopolies Commission for the term of office from October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026.

Constanze Buchheim has been active in the digital economy for 15 years. She started her career in 2006 at e-commerce pioneer Spreadshirt and founded i-potentials in 2009 as the leading executive search boutique of the digital and innovation landscape, emerging from the startup scene. As part of this role and her work as a business angel and advisory board member, she has accompanied the growth of countless well-known startups and digital players as well as the transformation of medium-sized companies, family businesses and corporations in Germany. She is a recognized expert on the topic of future leadership and has shaped the leadership and organizational structures of companies that are now among the beacons of the German innovation landscape. Buchheim is also a member of the supervisory board of the "HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management" and of the software company "Valsight" and has been president of the international Entrepreneurs Organization (Berlin Chapter) since July 2022. Handelsblatt ranked her among the 50 most influential women in the tech industry in 2021 and selected her as one of the 50 best female entrepreneurs in Germany in 2022.

Buchheim succeeds entrepreneur Dr. Thomas Nöcker, who retired from the Monopolies Commission on June 30, 2022, after serving three terms.

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