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Undisputedly,
the two biggest success stories in telecommunications over the
last decade have been the Internet and the mobile phone.
And now, it is their seamless combination that heralds the
promise of anywhere, anytime, anyplace communication
systems. The ITU's vision for third-generation (3G)
mobile systems (IMT-2000) foresees this convergence of mobile,
fixed and Internet Protocol (IP) networks towards future
high-speed services, integrating voice and data with
innovative offerings such as location-based
services.
This
vision presupposes that it will be possible for users to roam
freely with their handsets and have affordable access to
equivalent products and services. Today, technically, effective roaming exists for the
GSM standard throughout Europe, parts of Africa, Asia and
South America. However,
it is far from global: for instance, roaming to and from North
America and Japan requires special measures and users may even
incur custom duties and taxes relating to the use of their
handsets abroad. Moreover,
the complexity and non-transparency of pricing for roaming
services have been problematic for second-generation (2G)
users. IMT-2000
3G roaming, with the added complications of multiple frequency
bands, radio transmission technologies and Internet access,
may require additional international coordination or new
regulatory approaches.
During
the last year or two, the world has seen a large number of licenses
for 3G services being awarded through various approaches, such
as auctions and beauty contests. In many countries, the process has been characterized
by legal challenges, last-minute consolidation, and high
licence fees. Many more countries have not yet begun the
process. At
this stage, the questions to be explored include the impacts
of the chosen regulatory approach on pricing, market dynamics
and business strategies. Another important issue is the regulatory treatment of
Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) in the mobile space. VNOs may not be licensed to use radio spectrum, but
would have access to the networks of one or more of the
licensed operators, in order to provide subscription and call
services to their customers. Although some countries like the UK have examined more
closely the position of VNOs, the regulatory climate is still uncertain and most
countries have yet to tackle the issue.
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