Public electronic communications may be provided by sole entrepreneurs and legal entities upon submission of a notification to the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC). The notification must be in a form approved by the CRC. Alternatively, it can be submitted using a template prepared by the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). The entity is required to inform the CRC of any changes to the data in the notification within 14 days of the change.
Exemptions from Notification Requirements
Notification is not required in the following cases:
- Provision of number-independent interpersonal communication services.
- Access to a public electronic communications network provided via a local radio network by enterprises, public sector organizations, non-governmental organizations, or end-users, where such access is not part of an economic activity or is supplementary to an economic activity or public service unrelated to signal transmission over these networks.
Required Attachments
- For entities not registered in Bulgaria: A document verifying current registration under national legislation.
- For entities without a CRC online questionnaire system account: An application form to create a profile in the system.
CRC Register
The CRC enters the entity in the register of providers of public electronic communications networks and services and forwards the notification to BEREC within 14 days of receipt or after addressing any deficiencies.
Reporting Obligations
Providers of public electronic communications networks and services in Bulgaria must submit an annual activity report for the previous year through the CRC's online questionnaire system by March 15 each year. Additionally, providers of internet access services must submit a report as of July 1 through the system by August 15 each year.
Regulatory Compliance
The provision of electronic communications networks and/or services must comply with the applicable provisions of the Electronic communications act and the General requirements for provision of public electronic communications.
Fees
Providers are subject to an annual regulatory fee to support regulatory activities, as per Tariff of Fees. The fee is 0.291% of the gross revenue generated from all electronic communications activities1, excluding VAT, if the annual revenue exceeds BGN 100 000 (EUR 51 129,19). For revenues below this threshold, the fee is 0%.
1 This is calculated after deducting transfer payments to other enterprises for network interconnection, access, transit, roaming, value-added services, as well as expenses for the settlement of copyright and related rights for radio and television programs.
Termination of Activities
Providers terminating their activities in Bulgaria are required to notify the CRC using either a form approved by the CRC or a template provided by BEREC. Upon receiving this notification, the CRC will promptly remove the provider from its register. Furthermore, within 30 days of submitting the notification, the provider must complete and submit a report on its annual activities through the CRC’s online questionnaire system.
