Workshop on Fixed-Mobile Interconnection PART III Interconnection conflicts : The Moroccan case Geneva, 20-22 September 2000

Scope of the Dispute Whilst agreeing all the technical issues the parties have failed to agree on the interconnect conveyance prices for Fixed to Mobile, Mobile to Mobile and Mobile to Fixed traffic. The parties have referred this dispute to ANRT to resolve in accordance with Moroccan Law 24-96 and Decree 2-97-1025.

The basic claim from MEDITEL is that the prices proposed by IAM to terminate traffic from their network are too high and that those offered by IAM for delivery of traffic to MEDITEL are too low.

The interconnection team decided to adopt the following procedure in order to settle the dispute : 1/Apply an international benchmarking to compare both parties offer to offers from similar countries; 2/ Proceed to a comprehensive analysis of cost models used by both parties in order to adjust them and consider only relevant costs according to the interconnection decree.

3/ Compute the interconnection prices after models adjustment; 4/ Place the interconnect prices found at step 3 within the international benchmark to check the coherence sought.

CONCLUSION The interconnection prices found after cost models adjustments fit within the international benchmarking; Fur further interconnection disputes settlement and in accordance with the Moroccan telecommunications law ANRT will promptly : - Develop its own cost model for fixed and mobile terminations; - Undertake a legal auditing of concerned operators.