Universal service is a group of telecommunications services that is available at affordable prices to all end users in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia at the location of their permanent residence, regardless of their geographic location.
Universal service aims to prevent digital exclusion. It is designed as a safety net for users who cannot get affordable services on the market.
Universal service includes the following services:
- connection to a public communications network at a fixed location at the reasonable request of the end-user, through which access to a voice communications service is provided,
- connection to a public communications network at a fixed location at the reasonable request of the end-user, through which broadband access to the Internet is provided at a transmission speed as specified in any applicable general act governing the transmission speed appropriate for broadband access to the Internet,
- access to the universal directory and universal subscriber information service,
- measures for disabled end-users, other people with disabilities and people on low incomes.
Universal service is provided for in the Law on Electronic Communications, which fully transposes European Union legislation in this area. The individual services are provided by providers selected on the basis of a procedure laid down in the Electronic Communications Act. The designation procedures are managed by the Agency, which, on the basis of market analyses and public consultations, formulates concrete measures and designates providers. The process is usually repeated every five years to ensure that the universal service adapts to people's needs and market conditions. The Agency may also decide not to designate a provider for a particular service.
Finally, the Agency carried out the procedure for designating universal service providers in 2024. The services of connection to the public telephone network and access to data communications (Internet) are provided by Telekom Slovenije d.d., the obligation is valid until 1 July 2026. The provider of directory access and directory enquiry services is TSmedia d.o.o., The obligation to provide the services expires on 3.12.2029. These two companies must also implement measures for disabled end-users, for other people with disabilities and for people with low incomes.
The Agency determines the transmission speed on the basis of an analysis of the market situation, and then conducts a public consultation in which interested members of the public can participate. The process is concluded by the issuance of a General Act on the download speed suitable for broadband internet access. Currently, the download speeds suitable for Internet access are set at 10 Mbit/s to the user and 1 Mbit/s from the user.
What if the user cannot get broadband or telephony?
In case an end-user cannot get broadband access from commercial service providers, Slovenian legislation only requires it as a universal service. Universal service is intended as a safety net for all citizens of EU Member States. The ZEKom-2 provides that universal service is a minimum set of services of a specified quality that is available to all end-users in the Republic of Slovenia at an affordable price, regardless of their geographical location. Universal service includes, inter alia, access to telephone services and the internet at a fixed location. The ZEKom-2 further stipulates that the service must be available at the location where the user permanently resides or carries out his/her activity, and that those residents who do not have the possibility of alternative access to the services included in the universal service package at an affordable price on the market are entitled to it. Universal service may be provided through different technologies, and the choice of technology depends on the technical possibilities at the location of the user's permanent residence. The detailed scope of the universal service is determined by the Agency in accordance with ZEKom-2.
Currently, each household is entitled to access the Internet at a transmission speed of 10 Mbit/s to the user and 1 Mbit/s from the user as part of the provision of universal service at the location of the permanent residence. In the event that the user is unable to obtain this service from service providers on a commercial basis, the company that must provide this service as the universal service provider is Telekom Slovenije, to which users can turn with a request for the provision of this service. If Telekom Slovenije fails to offer a commercial solution to the user's demand, the user may invoke the universal service right and Telekom Slovenije may verify whether or not the user is a beneficiary. Connection must normally be provided within 15 days, with a maximum of 30 days, except in the case of an emergency. Further information on universal service is also available on the MiPi portal.
For more information on the procedure for obtaining universal service access, please see the attachment.