site.btaCommunications Regulation Commission Decides Not to Revoke Mobile Operators' Licenses

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) decided not to initiate proceedings for revoking the licenses of mobile operators, the Commission announced on Tuesday. The decision was made a day after Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) Chair Maria Filipova sent a formal letter to CRC Chair Ivan Dimitrov, urging the revocation of the licenses issued to the three major mobile operators in Bulgaria under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

This legal provision states that, in cases of violations sanctioned by a final administrative penalty, the regulatory body can propose to the licensing authority to revoke the license or permit for the business activity.

However, the CRC found that the proposal to revoke the operators' licenses contradicts the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) and European legal frameworks. It also considers the measure disproportionate, as it does not align with the goals of the authorization system established by EU Directive (EU) 2018/1972. The directive aims to ensure legal certainty and regulatory predictability to create a secure environment for investments, especially in new wireless broadband communications.

As a result, the CRC decided not to initiate proceedings for revoking the licenses, as the grounds specified in the ECA were not met. The CRC emphasized that revoking a mobile operator’s license is an extreme measure and believes the consumer issues raised by the CPC can be addressed through deterrent sanctions within specialized legislation.