COMMON “FIXED NETWORKS” QUALITATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE
2
1. INTRODUCTION
This questionnaire is common to the three following fields :
-
fixed telephony
-
leased lines
-
bit stream access and unbundling
Its goal is to help ART to get a thorough understanding of the architecture and coverage of operators’ networks. It
also aims to identify:
 whether an operator controls non-duplicable infrastructures
 if there are entry barriers to the access and traffic collection markets at local and regional delivery points
 the importance of economies of scale and economies of scope linked to a diversification of services for
collection and conveyance markets
2. NETWORKS TOPOLOGY AND COVERAGE
The purpose of this part is to obtain a description of the operators’ networks. ART will measure the extent to which
facilities can be duplicated , focusing on the duplication of network infrastructures. To allow it to do this, this
questionnaire distinguishes between:
2.1.
-
networks providing access to end users
-
local, regional and national conveyance segments
General questions on the technologies employed
[2.1.1]
Which technologies do you use to convey voice, distinguishing, if necessary, between your French
and international networks? What are the advantages / constraints of each of these technologies?
[2.1.2]
Which technologies do you use to convey dial-up Internet traffic, giving the location of the NAS
(départemental, regional, national)? What are the advantages / constraints of each of these
technologies?
[2.1.3]
Which network do you use to provide retail and wholesale leased lines (access network and general
network):
- ATM network
- IP network
- another data network ?
[2.1.4]
In the medium term, do you expect changes or new technologies: NGN, VoIP, etc.?
2.2.
Topology and coverage of access networks
[2.2.1]
Please identify your local loops, providing maps if possible.
[2.2.2]
How many POPs do you have that are capable of connecting customers? What is your connection
capacity? What services do these PoPs offer (voice, type of data)?
[2.2.3]
Please provide the following data concerning your roll out, or an estimate, for end 2002 and your
estimates for end 2003 and end 2004 :
- number and list of DSL-equipped main distribution frames
- population coverage
- average number of accesses and DSLAM activated on the sites
[2.2.4]
Please identify the major changes expected on these networks in the medium term (end 2004).
[2.2.5]
In your opinion, which infrastructures are not economically duplicable and why? Please give the
geographic coverage concerned, if necessary.
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[2.2.6]
Concerning telephony, what is the percentage (in volume, number of customers, sales) of traffic
collected via carrier selection (call by call and pre-selection) / via unbundling (partial and full) / via
your own local loops?
[2.2.7]
How are your offers broken down by type of local loop (optical local loop, unbundling, etc.), for the
following offers :
- telephony only (including dial-up Internet)
- telephony and data
- data only
[2.2.8]
In determining whether to use unbundling and/or leased lines, what are the criteria for serving a
customer: volume in minutes, sales, number of lines, etc.?
[2.2.9]
How does the profile of your activities (telephony operator, data service provider, etc.) influence your
choices?
[2.2.10]
How did the changes to interconnection tariffs from 1998 to 2003 influence your choices?
[2.2.11]
How did the changes to unbundling tariffs influence your choices?
2.3.
Conveyance
[2.3.1]
Please identify your points of presence and your backbones, providing maps if possible.
[2.3.2]
How many PoPs do you have connecting other operator networks? What is your connection capacity?
What services do these PoPs support (voice, type of data)?
[2.3.3]
Please give the number and location of your main switching equipment: telephone switches, NAS,
ATM switches, etc.?
[2.3.4]
Please give the length and capacity of your network, identifying the percentage of owned and leased
infrastructures.
[2.3.5]
Please explain the major changes planned on this network in the medium term.
[2.3.6]
In your opinion, which infrastructures are not economically duplicable and why? Please give the
geographic coverage concerned, if necessary.
[2.3.7]
How many connections do you have with other operators’ switching points?
France Telecom
Other operators
Operator connection point or
regional site
Local switch or local site
Leased line switches
ATM switches
IP routers
Others (identify)
Please give the location of these sites (address and/or INSEE code of the city)
[2.3.8]
For telephone interconnection with France Telecom, please give the following per transit area:
- the number and type of interconnection points (operator connection point/tandem switch) to
which you are connected
- the choice of access to interconnection sites: owned (co-location), via interconnection, mixed (in
span)?
[2.3.9]
Concerning the degree of interconnection, are investments amortised primarily by the costs of
interconnecting switched traffic (geographic and mobile, Internet and special numbers)? If not, please
identify the other factors: unbundling, own local loop, other services (leased lines, option 3), etc.
[2.3.10]
How does the profile of your activities (local call carrier, operator’s operator, etc.) influence your
choices?
[2.3.11]
How did the changes to interconnection tariffs between 1998 and 2003 influence your choices?
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[2.3.12]
If you use alternative offers to France Telecom’s interconnection offer, what motivated the choice:
price, partnerships, national offers, etc.?
3. FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING DATA
3.1.
Financial data
[3.1.1]
Do you have a positive net result? If yes, since what year? Please identify the perimeter used.
[3.1.2]
What margins do you realise per market area?
[3.1.3]
Please give a history and forecast of capital investment (CAPEX) and operational expenditures
(OPEX) for the years 2001 to 2004, for fixed network activities. Identify the weight of the various
services (fixed telephony, leased lines, DSL and unbundling).
[3.1.4]
Please provide your financial statements for 2001 and 2002.
3.2.
Prospects
[3.2.1]
What is the gross value (total of undepreciated investments) of your network?
[3.2.2]
Is this network stable or will it be extended further?
If it will be extended,
- what is the target: the number of own points of presence, number of interconnection points with
France Telecom?
- what do you estimate to be the gross value of this additional deployment?
[3.2.3]
What do you estimate to be the deployment cost for your network to allow it to receive delivery of
DSL traffic (distinguishing between connection and other costs):
- in each of the main distribution frames of the ten largest cities
- in each of the main distribution frames of the ten largest urban conglomerations (according to
INSEE definition)
- in each of the main distribution frames currently equipped for DSL by France Telecom
- on all of the parent switches used for the Turbo DSL and ADSL Connect ATM offers
- on all opened distant ATM switches (>100)
- on at least one distant ATM switch per DSL area (41)
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