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Swiss govt approves minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps [Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates)](Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Swiss Federal Council has approved a doubling in the minimum broadband speed under the universal service, to 2 Mbps download and 200 Kbps upload. The price will remain CHF 55 per month. The change is part of various amendments to ordinances in the telecommunications sector, aimed at improving transparency. The amendments also improve consumer protection by requiring stricter disclosure of the cost of value-added telecom services at the point of purchase. Providers will be prohibited from adding additional fees such as for call set-up or a call to book the service, something aimed at making calls to 0800 numbers truly free. In addition, callers to service lines on 058 numbers must be informed immediately if the cost of the call is higher than a standard fixed call. Finally, measures have been taken to combat the misuse of Swiss telephone numbers in order to make advertising calls (spoofing). In future, telecommunications service providers will be able to block such calls in agreement with the holders of these numbers. These amendments are embodied in the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (OST), Ordinance on the Indication of Prices (OIP) and Ordinance on Addressing Resources in the Telecommunications Sector (ORAT). The Council also approved ordinances giving the Federal Office of Communications more tools to combat radio frequency spectrum interference, such as recovering the costs of locating interference. Another measure passed reorganises the management of the .ch and .swiss domains. The new Ordinance on Internet Domains (ODI) makes provision for separating the registry function (administration of internet website database) from the registrar function (commercialisation of domain names). The SWITCH Foundation has been tasked with managing domain names under the top-level country code .ch 31 until March 2015. It can therefore continue to perform both roles until this date. However, the regulations have had to be revised in order to match global developments. The new delegated authority's mandate which will be put out to tender will entrust to the registry the task of organising, administering and centrally managing the .ch domain. The registrars will market .ch domain names which will continue to be assigned to interested parties on a first come, first served basis. The ODI makes provision for the registry/registrar model to also be used as the basis for the new .swiss generic top-level domain name. Only entities that are based in Switzerland or who have a special connection with the country may request a .swiss domain name from Ofcom, which will assume the registry function. This new domain will become operational during the course of next year. (c) 2014 Emirates News Agency (WAM) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |