The interplay between market factors and regulation in next-generation broadband: evidence from Europe

Although many factors affect next-generation access (NGA) deployment, regulatory frameworks have the power to guide future investments, further development and, consequently, the competitiveness of a next-generation broadband market. Understanding the link between markets and regulatory requirements, therefore, is essential. Using data collected from broadband stakeholders in three markets, this paper provides an empirical analysis of this relationship. The market conditions in The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK) and their roles in influencing the regulatory decisions made by the respective national regulatory authorities (NRAs) are examined. Such analysis first shows that market conditions present different priorities for regulators and policymakers. While markets with weaker incentives for investment, such as the UK, are in need of regulatory and public policy intervention, The Netherlands and Sweden require less stringent measures. Despite this, evidence shows that some level of NGA regulation is presently required in all three markets, albeit to varying degrees and with different foci. The paper then highlights the interaction of the market factors, explaining that this interrelationship is more important for policymakers than the effects of a single factor. The findings of the paper are useful for regulators in addressing the challenges of next-generation broadband deployment. --Next-generation access,Regulation,The Netherlands,Sweden,United Kingdom,Comparison

How do market factors influence the development of next-generation broadband?

In recent years, the delivery of telecommunications services has shifted towards the use of the Internet Protocol (IP). Increasingly, new access mechanisms promise the capability and potential to deliver progressively higher speed and bandwidth-intensive applications. Moreover, this next generation of telecommunications infrastructure has been embraced by network operators in order to enhance their competitiveness. Though it is widely accepted that next-generation broadband will realize numerous commercial and socio-economic benefits, the investment uncertainties are many. For example, the financial requirements for network deployment are substantial and current-generation broadband services are still deemed adequate for many economies. The desire to understand these investment differences that exist across telecommunications markets motivates this research. The overarching research question is „how do market factors influence the development of next-generation broadband?‟. With a focus on Europe, the research explores the investment decisions made by market players in The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Through semi-structured interviews, the study investigates the definitions of Next-Generation Networks (NGN) and Next-Generation Access (NGA), the benefits associated with these network paradigms, and the drivers for investment and technological choice. Drawing on academic literature, the research builds on studies that describe the macro-economic impact of markets on investment in NGN and NGA by providing an in-depth analysis underpinned by an empirical base. For the telecommunications industry, the study provides insight and guidelines for policymakers and network investors. The research confirms the existence of a pronounced relationship between market factors and investment decisions. Path dependency, for example, plays an important role in defining NGA for market players while regulation, competition and geographic conditions are primary informants to the investment decision. A market-investment conceptual map highlighting the interplay between these issues is proposed, revealing the existence of reinforcing relationships in NGN and NGA development. More importantly, the detailed investigation into specific market conditions shows that it is the combination and interaction of the existing market factors that ultimately shape the investment decision.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Investment opportunities and barriers for next-generation broadband: a European comparison

Paper presented at the 18th Biennial Conference of the International Telecommunications Society discussing a comparison of European investment opportunities and barriers for next-generation broadban

Public and private intervention for next-generation access deployment : possibilities for three European countries

How next-generation access (NGA) deployment can be encouraged is a challenge that many countries are facing, and one that has been widely and actively discussed around the globe. This discussion has highlighted a dilemma that ultimately shapes investment—how to encourage the widespread deployment of NGA while enabling operators to achieve reasonable returns. This paper focuses on the tensions that arise as a consequence of this investment challenge in three countries – the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK) – and uses the analysis of extensive data collection with k7ey actors to argue the case for the injection of public or private incentives. The paper finds that markets with competitive infrastructure will not benefit from public investment while markets with geographical constraints are in need of public support. The paper also explains that regulatory intervention is necessary in the early stage of NGA roll-out, even in currently competitive markets. In all the discussions it becomes evident that, among the three cases, the UK is most in need of public intervention