IP migration’s implication for the
concept of Universal Service and
Consumer Protection
Knud Erik Skouby, Professor & Reza Tadayoni, M.Sc.E.E., Ph.D.
CICT, Technical University of Denmark
skouby@cict.dtu.dk & reza@cict.dtu.dk
ITU
March 25, 2006
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Overview
Based on a infoDev/ ITU project
New technologies and their impacts on regulation
Universal Service Concept
The NGN concept
IP migration
IP migration and Universal Service
Changes in the concept of Universal Service
Conclusion
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
The Universal Service Concept
Telephony services
- Access to basic telephony service
- The rationale behind
Political objectives
EU: ..minimum set of services, of
specified quality to which all end-users
have access, at an afforable price in the
light of national conditions, without
distorting competition
- Access to predefined communication services
- Regional development programs
Affordability
TV/Radio broadcast
- Public service/public interest
Access dimension
- Certain level of coverage
Content dimension
- Certain requirements on content
Internet
- No universal service/access obligations
But…
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Technological trends
Third wave
Information Society technological trends
ICT in Public sector
ICT in private sector
Second wave
Applied technological trends in Tele- Datacoms
IP
Mobile
NGAN
Convergence &
Converged services
First wave
Basic Technological trends
Digitalization
Computerisation
Packet Switching
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
The NGN Concept
Management
Management
Management
Management
Management
System
Telephony
Server
SERVICES & CONTENT LAYER
Other
Servers
ATM Connectivity Network
Core Switches
Switching
Switching
Switching
Switching
Transport
Transport
Transport
Transport
Access
Access
Access
Access
CONNECTIVITY LAYER
Media Gateways
Fixed Access
Network
PSTN/ISDN
MOBILE TELEPHONY
DATA/IP
Other
Operator’s
Network
Mobile Access
Network
ACCESS LAYER
CABLE TELEVISION
NGN: Loosely defined term for changes in network
infrastructure
NGCN – Related to the backbone network
NGAN – Related to the Access networks
Chapter 4
Problem Analysis
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
IP migration I
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
IP migration II
Characteristics of IP
- Separation between network technology and services
- End-to-End architecture, and extension of intelligence
from the core to the edge of a network
- Scalability
- Distributed design and decentralised control
Emergence of triple/Multi play services
- Internet
- VoIP
- IPTV
Broadband as the platform for materialisation of
Convergence
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Consumer benefits
Potentially enhanced competition/ many new
players
Broader range of traditional services
Choice of services/ technologies
New services – also addressing ’barriers and
bottlenecks’
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
IP migration and Universal Service (US)
Non circuit switched voice services equals the
telephony/ POTS from a functional user point of
view
- Access
- Affordability
- Quality of Service
Modified by IP migration/ competition?
- To a certain extent in certain areas, but accompanied
by new issues associated with the ‘Information
Society’
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
The ’IP-based Society’
Internet plays a major role in the information Society.
- Dial up has played a major role
- Broadband is becoming more important
Development of telephony to remote areas can be
connected to development of broadband
- VoIP
- Voice over broadband
IP networks are used more and more for distribution of
TV and radio service. This requires:
- High speed broadband,
Or
- Combined broadband IPDC networks
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Social Inclusion
The world becomes increasingly reliant on ICT
connectivity
Access to ICT is a key factor for individuals’ participation
in Society
Access to ICT is a key factor for nations’ participation in
the International division of labor
Access to ICT is an efficient way for bringing basic
communication services like Voice to unserved areas
Access to ICT, a key enabler for, e.g., better health care
and inclusion of disabled in the society
- Today there are about 550 mio disabled persons worldwide
- Disabled are a minority when it comes to social status and power
- Huge potentials in ICT for Inclusion of disabled: text to speech,
speech to text,…
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
US and Consumer Protection
US – the basics remains
Access
Affordability
Quality of Service
- A new setting – the concept matters
Consumer Protection – new issues related to new
services/ new structures
-
Anonymity
Security
Privacy
Interoperability
Wide applicability
Transborder reach
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Changes in concepts
The US concept has to move from narrowband PSTN
world
US cannot be related to a specific technology
(‘Technology neutrality’) – must be adaptive change
enabler:
- VoIP
- VoDSL, etc
- US should include Internet Access (cf. EU position)
Requirement on dial up capability of telephony services can have a
restrictive effect
Broadband has to be considered (cf. EU position: only 6,5% take
up))
Broadening of US must be mirrored by increased
consumer protection
Consensus is gone
- Diverging consumer interests
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Conclusion: The concept matters
A definition of US that includes only voice
becomes less relevant as voice is delivered in
combination with a host of other services
The design of Universal Service must still
address the communication needs
IP plays decisive role for participation in society
Universal Service should reflect the broadbandIP-converged-world
Consumer protection becomes more complex
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark
Conclusion: The Concept
US is determined in a dynamic social context
- Separate from industrial policy
- Socio-political communication needs
A global minimum?
- IP connectivity delivering VoIP
Center for Information and
Communication Technologies
Technical University of Denmark