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As recently as five years ago, markets for mobile wireless services in Europe were performing on par with, or even better than, markets in the United States. Today, there is broad agreement that the EU has fallen behind in at least some dimensions, especially with respect to the deployment of next generation LTE networks. We assess the divergence in performance, analyze its causes, and suggest policy changes that would improve the performance of mobile wireless markets going forward. These include regulatory harmonization of spectrum management, achieving efficient levels of consolidation, and promoting investment and innovation through a focus on dynamic competition. Key words: spectrum management, performance, ecosystem, dynamic competition, wireless markets., There is broad agreement that the EU is lagging well behind the U.S. in deployment of next generation wireless infrastructures (see e.g. KROES, 2013a; GENACHOWSKI, 2012). (1) This paper evaluates [...]

Recognition of the growing importance of broadband to the public presents challenges for policy-makers in introducing efficient strategies, not only to serve the increasing demand for broadband among people in society but also to increase their economic contribution both in the short run and in the long run. Different measures and strategies have been implemented in many countries and regions in order to encourage broadband deployment. Among them, the inclusion of broadband in the scope of universal service has been discussed. In the European Union, the discussion on broadening the scope of the Universal Service Directive (USD) to include broadband has been raised since the first periodical review in 2005. At that time, the European Commission concluded that only a small, although rapidly growing, minority of European consumers currently make use of broadband services. Therefore, the conditions for including broadband services within the scope of universal service as set out in the USD were not fulfilled. Later, the European Commission launched the second periodical review of universal service in 2008 with the preliminary conclusion that broadband has not yet reached the majority of people, implying that the conditions of the USD for expanding the scope of universal service were not yet fulfilled. However, the public consultation on broadening the scope of the USD to include broadband has been opened since March 2010 and was last on May 7, 2010. In the meantime, the public workshop organized in the context of the public consultation on universal service principles in e-communications was held on March 30, 2010. The workshop provided wide-ranging views on the topic, including an assessment of the cost of broadband availability and also the rapid change of broadband penetration rate throughout Europe. Against this background, this paper provides an analytical survey of the current state and trends of universal service with focus on broadband access in the European Union. First it presents an overview of broadband deployment and regulation in Europe. Then, it analyzes the USD reviews by taking into account the previous and the recent review, in particular by comparing the discourse evolution of the public submissions from stakeholders in the two consultations. A framework to evaluate broadband universal service will be provided. In conclusion, the paper will identify selected issues regarding broadband universal service in Europe, especially the pros and cons of broadband universal service.blablabla. Key words: universal service obligation, broadband, legislations, public consultations., Moving toward an information society has been set as a political agenda for the European Union (EU) for more than a decade. To reach this goal, several political initiatives have [...]

The environmental issue has generally received much attention from the public for decades, especially as a result of heavy industry--electrical energy, oil and gas, mining, steel and metals. Recently, attention has been paid to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its effect on the knowledge and related industries. Broadband, both fixed and mobile, is not an exception. Even though it has been recognized as a factor that has contributed to social and economic development, a negative effect can also be seen in particular regarding the environment. This paper provides a review of how government policy, in particular by the EU and Japan, are moving towards the transition to sustainability by utilizing ICT, as well as an evaluation of the pros and cons of broadband development. There are many complex effects on sustainability due to ICT. Since ICT can have environmental effects both as enabling energy efficiency and causing rebound effects, the policies should respond to both direct and indirect effects. To facilitate policy analysis and recommendations, this paper categorizes ICT impacts by five orders of aggregation. These five orders of aggregation may contribute both positively and negatively to sustainability, and each level will need targeted policies. The five orders of aggregation suggest a comprehensive and long term view of policy development, encompassing even policies that seek to improve the quality of decision making in our societies, by utilizing ICTs. Key words: broadband, sustainable development, green ICT., * Broadband development and environment issue 'Humanity has the ability to make the development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of [...]

Abstract: Besides 3G, a number of alternative wireless technologies (AWTs) have emerged. Such AWTs create new growth opportunities, but may also constitute a disruptive threat to existing networks and their [...]

Dear ITS Members, Part of ITS' mission is to '... provide a forum where academic, private sector and government communities can meet to identify pressing new problems and issues, share [...]

Dear ITS Members, Biennial Conferences are ITS' most important events .At our biennials, ITS members from around the world gather to discuss papers, present new findings and forge new contacts. [...]

Alain Bourdeau de Fontenay passed away on 23 July 2011. He will be remembered fondly by the academic and ICT community for his deep knowledge of the most important issues, [...]

Dear ITS Members, ITS is pleased to look back at two happy regional conferences, and to look forward to yet three more in 2009! Bangkok, 2-3 April, hosted by National [...]

Dear ITS Members, ITS is pleased to look back at another remarkable year, and also to look forward to 2009, with many new events. In Montreal, the 17th ITS Biennial [...]

Dear ITS Members ITS is pleased to announce that the 17th ITS Biennial Conference will be held in Montreal, Canada, June 24-27, 2008, and is co-hosted by the Universite de [...]

Dear ITS Members Over the past two years, there has been a strong interest shown to renew memberships on-line, and between biennial conferences. This increase in on-line membership renewals shows [...]

Joseph W. GOODMAN Telecommunications Policy-Making in the European Union Edward Elgar, 2006, 299 pages This well-written book deals with the emergence and shaping of telecommunications policy in Europe, with a [...]

Dear ITS Members, Over the past fifteen months the ITS has convened and supported six conferences and workshops: Berlin (September 2004), Hong Kong (June 2005), Pontevedra (July 2005), Perth (August, [...]

Dear ITS Members, Over the past fifteen months the ITS has convened and supported six conferences and workshops: Berlin (September 2004), Hong Kong (June 2005), Pontevedra (July 2005), Perth (August, [...]

As the new Chair of the ITS Board of Directors, it gives me great pleasure to greet you all. I look forward to deepening the many friendships I have made [...]

Jean-Marc CHADUC * Gerard Pogorel The Radio Spectrum Managing a Strategic Resource ISTE/Wiley, London, 2008 This book provides a comprehensive overview and unusual synthesis of spectrum management, written both from [...]