The aim of the Postal Services Act – to establish fair and effective competition in the postal markets – was not achieved during this reporting period either. Although a large number of licence holders are active in the letter market, these are primarily small and medium-sized enterprises, the vast majority of which operate in regional markets. Even three years after the partial opening of the market, the licence holders were able to account for only a 1.6 per cent market share of the letter market in 2000, measured in terms of turnover. The competitors’ total turnover was well below the growth in turnover achieved by Deutsche Post AG. Deutsche Post’s dominant market position remains unchanged. Looking at the fully liberalised part of the letter market, the competitors’ market share stands at 5.2 per cent. Consequently, no significant competition has developed in this sector either.