Aswath Weblog

Are these restrictions acceptable?

Recently, someone posted in a discussion list about a ruling by The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) regarding a new service called Puhekaista service (‘Sonera Voice Band’) offered by TeliaSonera Finland Oyj’s (Sonera). For me some of the conditions of the service are of more interest than the ruling itself (that this service should be complaint to telcom regulations). The conditions that caught my attention are:

• publication of a telephone number and other information in an electronic telephone directory can not be prohibited
• the service does not include call barring categories
• it is not possible to make calls using the calling line identification restriction.

Only recently I became aware that in US, as part of the service agreement, mobile subscribers have consented to list their name in a directory and that lawmakers are planning to make it into an optin program. Notwithstanding this, it is more surprising that Sonera does not allow for CLID restriction and call barring services. What fraction of the market will compromise on these services? If other service providers follow suit, won’t there be a backlash from consumer groups inviting regulations to protect consumer rights?