World competition agencies release new report on telecommunications sector

Ottawa, May 9, 2006 – The International Competition Network (ICN), which includes Canada's Competition Bureau, adopted suggested best practices for achieving a more competitive telecommunications services sector at its fifth annual conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

The practices were developed by the ICN telecommunications working group co-chaired by the Bureau, with members from 31 other competition agencies and non-governmental representatives. The working group produced a report about issues relevant to competition agencies in fulfilling their enforcement and advocacy roles in the telecommunications sector.

The conference also included:

• an in-depth review of cartel investigation techniques, with a focus on combatting obstruction of justice, the interaction of public and private enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, digital evidence gathering and the drafting and enforcement of an effective leniency program;
• the endorsement of new and updated material to enhance the quality and consistency of multi-jurisdictional merger review;
• the creation of a new working group to consider member's approaches to business conduct by dominant market players; and
• the launch of an electronic toolkit designed to improve communication between enforcement agencies and private enterprise was unveiled.

Commissioner of Competition Sheridan Scott will continue as a Vice-Chair of the ICN's Steering Group and Senior Deputy Commissioner Denyse MacKenzie will continue to co-chair the sub-group on enforcement techniques for cartels.

The Bureau was a key player in the creation of the ICN in October 2001 with competition agencies from 13 other jurisdictions around the world. It now includes almost 100 member agencies from over 85 jurisdictions. The ICN is a project-oriented and consensus-based organization, with members from developed and developing economies. Its Recommended Practices are non-binding but, once adopted by the ICN, they form a baseline for sound competition enforcement and advocacy practices.

ICN documents are available at www.internationalcompetitionnetwork.org.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

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Suggested Best Practices

Report of the Working Group on Telecommunications Services

Business Outreach Toolkit

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