The Impact of Functional Separation on the Development of National Broadband Network: A Case Study of UK

• Main Authors: Chi-Han Huang, 黃琪漢
• Other Authors: Chih-Liang Yeh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/5d35n3

碩士 === 元智大學 === 資訊社會學碩士學位學程 === 101 === This thesis attempts to discuss, taking British Telecom (BT) as an example, the impact of implementing functional separation on the service charge of fixed network service price and on the development of fiber optical network. This research found that the wholesale price of circuits had been increased since BT separated its network leasing division--Openreach. The separation policy did not create an interaction effect on the pricing; however, it has assured the equal access and driven the competition of retail market and the price-decreasing of products. As to the construction of fiber optical network, the progress has been fallen behind due to the influence of separation policy and competitors’ heavily dependence on the wholesale circuits of the BT. British Government tried to promote their next generation network (NGN) by taking the pioneer policy of super fast broadband project. Comparing the situation of Taiwan’s fixed network regulation and broadband development, this thesis argues that the main reason of market failure in the fixed network telecommunication market rests on the issue of reasonableness of wholesale price of leasing network. Taiwan’s regulator should put the regulatory focus on the “open channel” policy and the implementation of wholesale price regulation rather than the functional separation with costly regulation and policy controversies.