While this is an interesting idea and I personally would welcome such regulation it probably wouldn't solve the problem the EU is trying to address. Android al

While this is an interesting idea and I personally would welcome such regulation it probably wouldn't solve the problem the EU is trying to address. Android allows the installation of alternative app stores but Google still retains large effective control over the app market. I would argue that the EU recognised that and therefore regulated Operating systems and app stores because the former one isn't enough apparently. If things continue along this trajectory we may see the utility argument at the store level and at the OS level. Looking at how the electric power distribution industry is regulated it already works like this (at least here in Germany). On the one hand grid operators are heavily regulated (as you say) and must allow companies without infrastructure to resell power to end customers. On the other hand the actual owner of the last mile infrastructure is also forced to do business with all customers and has very little freedom to refuse(e.g. non-payment is a temporary valid reason). We may very well see something similar in the software distribution market since it's becoming such an integral part of life.