METHODOLOGICAL MANUAL FOR STATISTICS ON TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES Version 1.0 October 2001 EUROPEAN COMMISSION STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES EUROSTAT UNIT D1 This methodological manual was prepared under the responsibility of François de Geuser, Head of Eurostat Unit D1 - ‘Classifications. Methodological co-ordination. Infrastructure of business statistics’. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. Project Management Douglas Koszerek, Head of Sector ‘Information Society Statistics’ Eurostat Unit D1 Martti Lumio, Eurostat Unit D1 Consultants Methodological support and analysis Laurent Parisse, World Systems (Europe) Limited Desk top publishing Sabrina Schmitt, World Systems (Europe) Limited For further information on this publication, please contact Eurostat: Martti Lumio Tel (352) 4301 - 32234 Fax (352) 4301 - 33899 Email: [email protected] FOREWORD This methodological manual about Statistics on telecommunication services is part of the Eurostat Manual of Business Statistics (EMBS). The EMBS is a compilation of methodological texts created by Eurostat, which aims to ensure the consistency of structure and content of the methodological work of the European statistical system. Work on Statistics on telecommunication services is carried out on the initiative of the European Commission, in particular of the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) and of Directorate- General INFSO (responsible for the Information Society). This manual takes into account the latest conclusions drawn by the Working Group about Statistics on Communication and Information Services (COINS) which includes experts from national statistical offices and regulatory authorities. It sets out the achievements made on the collection of data on telecommunication services so far. It provides a common methodological framework for anyone working on the collection, compilation, transmission and analysis of statistics on telecommunication services. The main chapters of this manual contain: • An overview of the methodological work undertaken at Community level for statistics on telecommunication services • A description of the confidentiality issues, of the classifications of activities and services and of the sector specific variables related to telecommunications • Information about the developments of statistics on telecoms at ITU and OECD level The relevant legal framework for the compilation of statistics on telecommunication services are annexed to the manual as well as a list of official and non-official sources on telecommunications in the EU/EFTA, in candidate countries and in some non-European OECD countries, and a glossary of terms and concepts. Table of contents 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 THE COINS WORKING GROUP ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 SECTORAL CHAPTER OF THE EUROPEAN MANUAL OF BUSINESS STATISTICS (EMBS).......................................... 1 2. METHODOLOGICAL OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR.......................................................................................... 2 2.2 THE STATISTICAL UNIT ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.2 The enterprise................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.3 The kind of activity unit (KAU) ........................................................................................................................ 3 2.3 EXISTING SOURCES OF STATISTICS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS ............................................................................ 4 2.3.1 Eurostat data sources....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3.2 Other Community data sources...................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.3 Non-Community sources ................................................................................................................................ 12 2.4 PILOT SURVEY ON TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (1996-1999)....................................................................... 12 2.5 USERS’ NEEDS FOR STATISTICS ON TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES .................................................................. 13 2.5.1 Synthesis report of the users’ needs analysis carried out in 1999.................................................................. 13 2.5.2 Recent needs identified................................................................................................................................... 14 3. CONFIDENTIALITY AND LEGAL BASIS ISSUES IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS STATISTICS... 16 3.1 HOW TO TREAT CONFIDENTIALITY IN STATISTICS ON TELECOMS SERVICES? ....................................................... 16 3.1.1 Recent progress.............................................................................................................................................. 16 3.1.2 Eurostat methods for treating confidentiality................................................................................................. 16 3.2 DO COMMUNITY STATISTICS ON TELECOMS SERVICES NEED A LEGAL BASIS? ..................................................... 16 3.2.1 Existing legal acts relevant for statistics on telecommunications .................................................................. 16 3.2.2 Recent developments ...................................................................................................................................... 17 4. NOMENCLATURES AND CLASSIFICATIONS............................................................................................. 18 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.2 ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS (NACE REV.1 CLASS 64.20) ...................................... 18 4.3 CLASSIFICATION FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (CPA 64.2) ................................................................... 18 4.4 REVISIONS OF THE NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION.................................................................................. 22 4.5 CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT IN TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.............................................................. 22 4.6 LINKS WITH OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................. 22 5. COINS DATA COLLECTION............................................................................................................................ 26 5.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE COINS DATA COLLECTION................................................................................................ 26 5.1.1 Statistics on Communication and Information Services (COINS).................................................................. 26 5.1.2 The COINS Telecoms list of variables ........................................................................................................... 26 5.1.3 Data collection process.................................................................................................................................. 27 5.2 SECTOR SPECIFIC VARIABLES FOR WHICH YEARLY ENTERPRISE STATISTICS ARE COLLECTED ............................. 27 5.2.1 Data on operators .......................................................................................................................................... 27 5.2.2 Employment.................................................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.3 Investment ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.4 Breakdown of turnover................................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.5 Telecommunications volume .......................................................................................................................... 29 5.2.6 Infrastructure indicators ................................................................................................................................ 30 6. MEASURING PRICES OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES........................................................... 32 6.1 OBJECTIVE .........................................................................................................................................................