Hybrid Mail opens up

The Italian government has opened up its market for day, or time-certain delivery of hybrid postal services, after the EC branded its current legislation antitrust.
In December, the Commission said Italian legislation reserving this electronic mail service to Poste Italiane, was in breach of EU antitrust rules. “I welcome Italy’s willingness to promptly implement the Commission’s decision. This is a successful resolution of a case involving the difficult issue of the scope of a postal monopoly,” Monti said.
“The Italian government’s swift opening of the market for day- or time-certain delivery ser vices has proven that progress in the postal sector can come through means other than long and protracted litigation,” he said.
All private operators, subject only to a general authorisation, can provide the new hybrid electronic mail service under the new rules, the Commission said.