Part II: Workshop on “Broadband access in the coming era”
Date and venue
This event took place in Prague on 29 March 2006. It was organized by TESTCOM and IREE.
Agenda
The number of broadband lines across the European Union is rising fast and in some countries the broadband access
to the Internet is becoming affordable for a considerable part of the population, but not yet for all. On the other hand, e-services that exploit broadband access to the Internet are a considerable advantage for those who can afford them. Moreover, multimedia services are already on offer by leading service providers. Therefore the question arises: should broadband access and multimedia services become part of the Universal Service in order to tackle the ‘digital divide’?At present, fixed lines routinely enable provision of multi-megabit access and in some countries operators
of the third generation mobile networks (UMTS, IMT-2000) already offer broadband access as well. At the same time, the concept of next generation networks (post-UMTS, NGN, 4G) is being discussed in research circles. These universal networks will comprise both fixed and mobile networks. What will happen with the universal service in the era of convergent networks? Should the Universal Service be extended to cover also the mobile broadband access and multimedia services?Public consultation on the subject of the Universal Service obligation in connection with the revision
of the EC’s ICT regulatory framework has just ended. The revised framework is to be published in 2006. Now, it is time to exchange the views and formulate a preliminary position on a national level.The following questions were discussed at the workshop:
- Should access to mobile network and the use of mobile services – in spite of the negative view of the Commission –
already be included in the Universal Service framework as part of the forthcoming revision?
If so, what should be prepared in the areas of- specification of technical and qualitative parameters of voice services
- specification of geographical accessability
- specification and assurance of affordability
- specification of access to Internet and SMS service?
- Should access to high speed Internet – in spite of the negative view of the Commission – already be included in
the Universal Service framework as part of the forthcoming revision?
If so,- with what bit rate and qualitative parameters?
- how to ensure technological neutrality for wide scope of technology alternatives?
- how to ensure affordability?
- how to stimulate investment necessary for securing such a level of service provision without deforming the competition environment?
- what will be the right time to include access to high speed Internet into the Universal Service
- in what way to preliminary stimulate access to high speed Internet so that its unavailability does not hamper strategic e-activities?
- Developments in the area of 3G and 4G networks and their impact on the Universal Service obligation
- Developments in the area of convergence of services and provision of multimedia services and their impact on the Universal Service obligation
- Migration of voice services from TDM to IP:
- When will this process be complete if ever?
- How will this technological development effect the fixed/mobile share of the service?
- What will the impact of phenomenon have on the Universal Service obligation?
- Should the provision of VoIP service be regulated?
Invited experts from the Czech and Slovak Republics took part in the panel discussion:
representatives of NRAs, telecommunication operators, service providers, a research community, independent consultants and consumers.Results
The summary of the workshop is available here. Furthermore, all aspects of the workshop are described in deliverable D1.3 part 1.Contact
If you have any questions about this workshop, you can contact dr. Anton Kuchar of IREE, co-organizer of the workshop and contractor within BReATH.