Do We Need Policy 3.0 for Telecom 3.0? The Case of the Netherlands

Abstract

In a 2008 Discussion Paper Prof. Noam asserts that the new generation of fiber-based access networks, which he denotes as Telecom 3.0, requires significant upgrades. When the current economic context is taken into account, the financial crisis and international competitiveness, he infers that these upgrades will require a shift in regulatory priorities towards incentives for investments. He concludes that the economies of scale of next generation access and their use as media platforms, will lead to regulatory approaches that are different from those prevailing for the current generation of telecom networks, denoted as Telecom 2.0. In the discussion paper he poses a provocative question: 'Is Telecom 3.0 merely a high speed version of Telecom 1.0, extended across borders of countries and media, supplemented by oligopoly at best? Hence, have we come full circle?' (Noam, 2008).