The new postal regulatory framework should focus only on postal users' essential needs
11 June 19
Virginie Alloo
Policymakers need to adopt a greenfield approach when reviewing the postal regulatory framework if they are to take proper account of the technological and market changes in the delivery market. Moreover, they need to consider only users' essential needs, rather than user preferences, when reviewing the universal service requirements of the Postal Services Directive. These are some of the main messages expressed by postal and delivery operators at a workshop on the postal sector organised by the European Commission on 4 June 2019.
Posti studies the effect of delivery frequency on its carbon footprint
06 June 19
Armen Ghalumyan
Finnish postal universal service provider Posti released a study on the effect of mail delivery frequency on the company’s carbon footprint. The study concluded that moving to a three days per week delivery frequency would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40%.
Questions asked on the definition of the postal market and universal service
06 June 19
Virginie Alloo
The postal and delivery sector is affected by new market and regulatory trends, while the decline in traditional letter mail continues. These developments blur the traditional boundaries of the postal market, raising questions over: the definition of the postal market; whether and how to regulate for the universal service; and how to assess postal users’ needs. These and many other questions were raised and discussed during the 27th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics.
bpost and the Belgian State have signed a management contract related to the provision of universal service
16 May 19
Virginie Alloo
The Belgian State and bpost have signed a management contract on the provision of universal service for the period 2019-2023. The scope and terms of the universal service remain largely the same as today.
bpost should continue to invest in the infrastructure of its post offices and in the training of its staff
16 May 19
Virginie Alloo
The Belgian regulator BIPT wants bpost to continue to invest in the infrastructure of its post offices and in staff training to provide high quality customer service under the sixth management contract. These are the main recommendations from BIPT's communication, following a field survey in post offices and postal access points in May 2018.
CNMC fines Correos for breach of universal service provisions
07 May 19
Armen Ghalumyan
The Spanish regulator sanctioned Correos for a serious breach of universal service regulations. The designated universal postal service provider violated the postal law by delivering postal items to facilities other than the relevant address without the regulator’s prior authorisation.