Structural Separation and Access in Telecommunications Markets

This paper presents a basic framework to assess whether structural (vertical) separation is desirable. It is discussed within the setting of fixed telecommunications markets. From an economist’s perspective, the key question that underlies the case for structural separation is: is there a persistent bottleneck? The obvious candidate is the ‘local loop’, or local access network. If yes then it makes sense to compare the costs and benefits of structural separation. The framework provides a set of options that the regulator can use strategically, by using the threat of a break-up to influence an incumbent’s competitive stance in the wholesale market.

New Competition in Telecommunications Markets: Regulatory Pricing Principles

Launching and stimulating competition in telecommunications markets is an important policy goal. It contains two elements: to encourage entry and to make competition effective such that consumers benefit. The first one requires that entrants can make profits after investing in infrastructure so that they have an incentive to invest. The second one requires prices to be sufficiently low so that consumers enjoy higher net utilities. At a first glance, these two elements seem difficult to achieve at the same time. In this paper, we consider price regulation in the retail and wholesale market and answer to what extent such regulatory policy can stimulate competition. Our main finding is that, in the short run, asymmetric access price regulation is an effective instrument to make the entrant and consumers better off.

Innovation, convergence and the role of regulation in the Netherlands and beyond

In the light of converging services for voice, data, and video, this paper discusses the challenges for telecommunications regulation from a European perspective. The Netherlands, a country with excellent conditions for facilities-based competition, is discussed as a case in point. With dynamic issues at the heart of the debate, the role of regulation and government intervention more generally is to create and possibly to sustain conditions among operators to upgrade their networks and to provide innovative services. A fresh look at current regulation suggests that an overhaul may be needed.

Broadband Access in Europe: Challenges for Policy and Regulation

Telekommunikation, Regulierung, Breitbandkommunikation, Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion, Telecommunications, Regulation, Broadband telecommunications, European Economic and Monetary Union

Local Loop Unbundling in Europe: Experience, Prospects and Policy Challenges

This paper discusses the development of local loop unbundling in telecommunications markets throughout the European Union. It elaborates on the regulatory framework in Europe and provides an overview of recent experiences in Europe. Different types of unbundling, allowing for different types of entry and services provided by entrants, are discussed. This paper also explores the challenges for policy and regulation that arise because of unbundling and recent, related technological developments in the markets for fixed voice telephony and broadband internet access, particularly the emergence of packet-switched telephony such as VoIP.local-loop unbundling; VoIP; telecommunications; regulation

Concurrentie, innovatie en intellectuele eigendomsrechten in software markten

This study analyzes under which circumstances it may be desirable for the government to stimulate open source software as a response to market failures in software markets. To consider whether policy intervention can increase dynamic efficiency, we discuss the differences between proprietary software and open source software with respect to the incentives to innovate and market failures that may occur. The document proposes guidelines to determine which types of policy intervention may be suitable. Our most important finding is that directly stimulating open source software, e.g. by acting as a lead customer, can improve dynamic efficiency if (i) there is a serious customer lock-in problem, while (ii) to develop the software, there is no need to purchase specific, complementary inputs at a substantial cost, and (iii) follow-on innovations are socially valuable but there are impediments to contractual agreements between developers that aim at realizing such innovations. This publication is in Dutch.

Competition, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights in Software Markets

This paper analyzes when it may be desirable for the government to stimulate open source software as a response to market failures in software markets. Our most important finding is that directly stimulating open source software, e.g. by acting as a lead customer, can improve dynamic efficiency if (i) there is a serious customer lock-in problem, while (ii) to develop the software, there is no need to purchase specific, complementary inputs at a substantial cost, and (iii) follow-on innovations are socially valuable but there are impediments to contractual agreements between developers that aim at realizing such innovations.software markets, intellectual property rights, open source software, public policy.

Future policy in telecommunications: an analytical framework

CPB investigates future policy issues within the telecommunication sector with the aid of so-called 'exogenous developments'. �The aim is to analyse a limited number of developments that are exogenous to policymakers. The policy issues that emerge depend mainly on the trade-off between so-called static and dynamic efficiency. The three exogenous developments we consider are: growth of internet through mobile, the outpacing of demand for supply of broad band internet access, and the concentration and consolidation of the European mobile industry. This paper describes the policy trade-offs for each of the exogenous developments, charts the likely development of the industry given certain key drivers, and suggests ways in which the market can be pushed towards the optimum state of high dynamic and high static efficiency. This work is co-financed by OPTA.

Local Loop Unbundling in Europe: Experience, Prospects and Policy Challenges

This paper discusses the development of local loop unbundling in telecommunications markets throughout the European Union. It elaborates on the regulatory framework in Europe and provides an overview of recent experiences in Europe. Different types of unbundling, allowing for different types of entry and services provided by entrants, are discussed. This paper also explores the challenges for policy and regulation that arise because of unbundling and recent, related technological developments in the markets for fixed voice telephony and broadband internet access, particularly the emergence of packet-switched telephony such as VoIP