The European Commission launched a public consultation with a view to updating the current list of relevant wholesale and retail telecoms markets subject to the Commission's "Article 7" procedure under EU telecoms rules. In particular, the purpose of the questionnaire is to identify major relevant trends and to consult stakeholders on the revision of the current list of relevant markets and their scope, as well as on markets to be possibly added to the list, including markets regulated at national level and trans-national markets.

The European Commission is consulting stakeholders and other interested parties to update the current list of relevant wholesale and retail telecoms markets subject to the Commission's "Article 7" procedure under EU telecoms rules. Having a list of relevant markets helps National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) regulate their markets in a coordinated manner, according to the Commission. The review will take into account major market and technological developments, such as internet-based applications and services, the convergence between different types of networks and services and the development of very fast internet networks and services. In February 2012, the Commission published a study that highlighted that completing the e-Communications Single Market could grow EU GDP by up to €110 billions a year.

Based on its results and after consultation with the Body of the European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Communications Committee (an advisory committee composed of Member State representatives), the Commission will adopt a revised Recommendation. The Commission invites interested parties to respond to the consultation by 8th January 2013.

This is the second review of the Commission's Recommendation on relevant markets. The Commission's first Recommendation dates from 2003 and was revised in 2007 to include one retail and six wholesale markets: access to the fixed telephone network, call origination on fixed telephone networks, call termination on individual fixed telephone networks, wholesale access to the local loop, wholesale broadband access, wholesale terminating segments of leased lines and voice call termination on individual mobile networks.