city university london school of social sciences convergence of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6. CONCLUSIONConvergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and information technologies is aphenomenon of last couple of decades accross the world. Technologicaladvancements such as digitalisation, computerization and development of internetcan be regarded as main drivers of convergence together with socio-economic driverssuch as opinions and reactions of end-users. As a result, it is possible to watchtelevision or read newspaper from our mobile telephones or to watch movies fromour computers. However everything about convergence is not good news. Astraditionally, separately regulated markets converge, some regulatory problems arise.This study concentrates on impact of convergence on regulatory frameworks. It isstated by many researchers and also by ITU and OECD that, blurring of thedistinctions between electronic communications sectors necessitates a revision intraditionally separate regulatory frameworks. In addition to this, convergence maynecessitate a single communications regulator to regulate telecommunications,broadcasting and information technologies markets together. One of the first andmost successful examples of converged communications regulator is OFCOM in theUK. By replacing five separate bodies in broadcasting and telecommunications area,OFCOM was established in 2003 aiming to regulate converging markets together.There are also many other converged communications regulators in Europe andacross the world such as Finland, Denmark, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia andSouth Africa.When we have a look at the situation in Turkey, the main barriers againstdevelopment of convergence are current confusing regulatory framework and lack ofa consolidated regulatory agency. However, currently there is not any effort at theinstitutional level taking convergence into account. Telecommunications andbroadcasting sectors are still being regulated separately and general competition lawapplies to information technologies sector. However there are some indicatorssignaling that convergence is starting to take place in the agenda. ElectronicCommunications Law regarding the regulation of telecommunications sector hasenacted in May 2009. Although the main driver of enactment of this Law is EUcandidacy of the country, it introduced a new technology neutral licensing regime in47
telecommunications sector that is also necessary in a convergent environment.Nevertheless, there is still much to do in regulatory framework in order to deal withconvergence. For example, because of lack of a converged regulatory framework,market players providing converged services are subject to regulatory burden. Also,as there are a couple of conglomerates dominating the broadcasting market becauseof ineffective regulation of the sector, objectives of plurality and diversity areperceived to get harmed. In addition to this, spectrum management is being held bydifferent institutes in the country against the recommendations of ITU and OECD.In order to deal with mentioned challenges and let convergence to develop in thecountry it is seen necessary to progressively introduce a new regulatory model tocover whole range of existing and new services. It is clear that coordination,consistency and technologically neutral policies that convergence necessitates aremore likely to be accomplished by one single converged regulator. Taking this intoaccount, it is considered appropriate for Turkey to establish a single convergedregulator covering telecommunications, broadcasting and information technologiessector. However, its timing seems to be a little early since convergence necessitatesrelying on market powers as markets change faster than regulations and thisnecessitates a shift from ex-ante to ex-post regulations. The problem stems fromtelecommunications sector. Since liberalization in the sector realized only in 2004, itis still early to talk about a fully competitive sector. As a consequence, some detailedex-ante regulation is still needed in telecommunications sector. For establishment ofthe single converged regulator, the year 2014 is proposed. Because, digitalswitchover is planned to take place at that date, spectrum will no longer be a scarceresource it is considered that broadcasting sector can be upgraded and ruled bycompetition law principles henceforth. Also, competition in telecommunicationssector is evolving rapidly and telecommunications regulator is working hard onestablishing a competitive environment in the country. As a result 2014 seems like anappropriate date to establish a converged regulator in Turkey.48
Page 5: ABBREVIATIONSCA: Competition Author
Page 8 and 9: aspects of convergence in the count
Page 10 and 11: framework in UK are put forth takin
Page 12 and 13: oundaries between industries by the
Page 14 and 15: p.40).Like Tarjanne, also Iosifidis
Page 16 and 17: and broadcasting sectors. The blurr
Page 23 and 24: Since end users can benefit from mo
Page 25 and 26: above. In order for them to enjoy t
Page 27 and 28: international phenomenon and at thi
Page 29 and 30: of platforms does not solve the cul
Page 31 and 32: egulatory approach than is necessar
Page 33 and 34: or merged them. This section analyz
Page 35 and 36: of a phone line to anyone on demand
Page 37 and 38: households with computers is 36.2%
Page 39 and 40: Turkish Radio Television Corporatio
Page 41 and 42: telecommunications services and inf
Page 43 and 44: competitive market in the country b
Page 45 and 46: egulated by a separate unit within
Page 47: StrengthsAs overlaps between curren
Page 51 and 52: accordance with Article 15(2) of Di
Page 53 and 54: the Media, Communication and Humani
Page 55: Regulators, in Bohlin, E., Brodin,

city university london school of social sciences convergence of ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?