Seit Mitte der achtziger Jahre wird international die Regulierung des Telekommunikationssektors reformiert. Die Anpassung
der Bedingungen auf den Märkten erfordert die Berücksichtigung des technologischen Wandels. Regulierung spielt eine technologiepolitische
Rolle, weil sie Anreizwirkungen zur Entwicklung und Diffusion neuer Technologien und Dienste liefert. Generell ist im Zuge
von Regulierungsreformen zu berücksichtigen, daß neue Instrumente entwickelt werden müssen (z. B. Auktionsverfahren), Regulierung
vielfach eine internationale Abstimmung von Strategien und Maßnahmen erfordert und die unreflektierte Fortführung technischer
und rechtlicher Regelungen aus der Regulierung traditioneller Telekomdienste (Telefon) ein Hemmnis für innovative Anwendungen
wie z. B. Electronic Commerce bildet.
Keywords:tip-related publications; Innovation und Regulierung in der Telekommunikation; Innovation and Regulation in Telecommunications
Forschungsbereich:Industrie-, Innovations- und internationale Ökonomie
Sprache:Deutsch
Innovation and Regulation in Telecommunications
Regulation is one of the key factors shaping both supply of and demand for new technologies and services. Consequently, the
regulatory framework for utilities – although primarily focused on the introduction of competition – can play an important
role for technology and innovation policy. Especially, the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) and
new services and applications such as electronic commerce hinges upon the creation of an appropriate regulatory framework,
which, i.a., supports technology policy objectives and strategies. The liberalization of telecommunications markets has a
number of implications for public policy. The process of regulatory reform is rather complex and requires institutional adjustments
as well as the utilization of new regulatory instruments. These are the main lessons we can learn from countries in which
the transformation from monopoly to competition started in the mid 1980s. Regulators have to get used to new instruments –
such as auctions for frequency allocation – which have implications for the creation of new markets. Institutional learning
beyond a theoretical approach will be required. Furthermore, regulators have to take into account the international dimension
in terms of markets and suppliers. Technological change in information and communication technologies produces another set
of questions for public policy. The shift in the basic paradigm for "electrical" communication networks from closed systems
towards open systems as well as the convergence between telecommunications, broadcasting and print will probably have the
most striking effects on the future of the industries. In an open system standards create access environments that are not
necessarily oriented towards any specific service environment. An open network paradigm includes the user, and significant
innovation is not necessarily generated within the supply sector alone. An appropriate policy towards innovation and diffusion
of new services has to account for the role of industry consortiums in the standardization process, for users as an important
source of innovation and for regulatory activities beyond regulation of the network infrastructure. Recent Austrian initiatives
towards the information society suggest that there is some leeway for a broader and more integrated communication policy.
However it is far from clear whether regulatory reform can overcome old paradigms.