Conference on Telecom Reform in Europe

Time
Thursday 22. March 2012 at 9:00 - 17:00

A Quarter Century of Telecom Reform in Europe:
Assessing Performance and Prospects

Conference organized by
Center for Communication, Media and Information Technology (CMI)
Aalborg University Copenhagen
in cooperation with the Danish Teletechnical Society, IEEE Denmark Section, Info The journal of policy, regulation and strategy for telecommunications, information and media

Venue: Aalborg University Copenhagen, Frederikskaj 1, Copenhagen SV, Denmark

Beginning with the Green Paper in 1987, the EU has been engaged in a continuing program of telecom reform centered round liberalizing access to telecom and ICT markets through pro-competition policies implemented via National Regulatory Authorities (NRA). The goal has been to create seamless European-wide markets as a foundation for common markets in other economic sectors. After a quarter century of reforms, it is timely to take stock of progress to date and examine the range of possible ways forward.

It is obvious that the former structure of protected national telecom monopolies has been transformed into a more diversified market structure. But the establishment of seamless European-wide markets still seems a long way off. The existence of significant market power (SMP) is the dominant characteristic of most markets. The desired investments for the digital economy/broadband era do not seem to be forthcoming from these partially competitive markets.

Do these developments reflect the maturation of liberalization policy and suggest that other policy tools are needed to achieve the goal of seamless European markets? Do they reflect that, in practice, the implementation of liberalization policy via NRAs has not yet achieved its goals, and strengthened sector regulation is the primary need? Or are there other explanations?
This Conference will bring together the experience of participants in the telecom reform process and the results of research on the issues to examine the current status and future possibilities for the telecom reform initiative in Europe.

Draft Program Outline

1. Overall Perspectives on Successes, Weaknesses and Unresolved Issues

  •  Competition on the national markets
  •  The creation of seamless European markets
  •  Industry and consumer perspectives

2. The Liberalization Agenda

  •  The effectiveness of policy development and EC direction
  •  Regulatory Implementation by member states
  •  Competition and competition authorities

3. Telecom Reform and the Info/Knowledge Economy (Lisbon ambitions)

  •  Progress with ICT Applications in Other sectors
  •  Technology shaping policy and regulatory options
  •  National and European Markets in a Global Economy

4. New Directions in Policy and Regulation for the Next Quarter Century
(spectrum, BB subsidies, and common market applications)

  •  Changing policy priorities for a changed environment
  •  More or less market liberalization
  •  Changing Roles for EU/EC, nation states, NRAs, competition authorities and others
     

For more information and registration: www.telecomreform.aau.dk

Program organizers

Address
Aalborg University Copenhagen, Frederikskaj 1, Copenhagen SV, Denmark

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