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Wholesale Pricing, NGA Take-Up and Competition

Author

Listed:
  • Steffen HOERNIG

    (Nova School of Business and Economics)

  • Stephan JAY

    (WIK-Consult GmbH)

  • Werner NEU

    (WIK-Consult GmbH)

  • Karl-Heinz NEUMANN

    (WIK-Consult GmbH)

  • Thomas PLÜCKEBAUM

    (WIK-Consult GmbH)

  • Ingo VOGELSANG

    (Boston University)

Abstract

Our market modelling approach aims at practically determining wholesale pricing policies for the switch from copper to fibre access networks. It asks which market equilibria for incumbents and entrants result from different combinations of copper and fibre wholesale access charges. We first calculate the relevant costs and the cost drivers for a representative European country which we call "Euroland". Network costs are derived for the investor and for competitors who base their business model on purchasing access from the incumbent. The cost modelling results feed into a model of competition between copper and Fibre to the Home (FTTH) with multiple competitors in order to capture aspects of the transition from copper to FTTH. We show the impact of wholesale prices for copper and fibre access on competition, retail prices and investment. The incentives for a switch from copper to fibre are largely preserved by an equal absolute reduction of both copper and fibre access charges and they are increased if the copper access charge is reduced by more than the fibre access charge. We find in a relatively simple calibrated model of competition for broadband service that substantial care must be taken in regulating the prices of inputs which are substitutes. In this calibrated model, small errors in the absolute price difference between these (even when the absolute level of one or the other price is correctly set) can lead to suboptimal outcomes. Our central result is that significant fibre investment can only be expected if the structure and level of wholesale prices is properly balanced.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen HOERNIG & Stephan JAY & Werner NEU & Karl-Heinz NEUMANN & Thomas PLÜCKEBAUM & Ingo VOGELSANG, 2012. "Wholesale Pricing, NGA Take-Up and Competition," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(86), pages 153-174, 2nd quart.
    • Handle: RePEc:idt:journl:cs8607
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. von Ungern-Sternberg, Thomas, 1991. "Monopolistic Competition on the Pyramid," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 355-368, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Balmera, Roberto E. & Ünverb, Mehmet Bilal, 2016. "Cooperative investment in next generation broadband networks: A review of recent practical cases and literature," 27th European Regional ITS Conference, Cambridge (UK) 2016 148657, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    2. Neumann, Karl-Heinz & Schmitt, Stephan & Schwab, Rolf, 2016. "Die Bedeutung von TAL-Preisen für den Aufbau von NGA," WIK Discussion Papers 404, WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH.
    3. Balmer, Roberto E., 2014. "Geographic regulation and cooperative investment in next generation broadband networks," 20th ITS Biennial Conference, Rio de Janeiro 2014: The Net and the Internet - Emerging Markets and Policies 106889, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    4. Vogelsang Ingo, 2013. "The Endgame of Telecommunications Policy? A Survey," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 64(3), pages 193-270, December.
    5. Balmera, Roberto E. & Ünverb, Mehmet Bilal, 2016. "Geographic regulation of next generation broadband networks: A review of practical cases and recent literature," 27th European Regional ITS Conference, Cambridge (UK) 2016 148656, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    6. Rajabiun, Reza & Middleton, Catherine, 2013. "Regulation, investment and efficiency in the transition to next generation networks: Evidence from the European Union," 24th European Regional ITS Conference, Florence 2013 88536, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    7. Stephan JAY & Karl-Heinz NEUMANN & Thomas PLÜCKEBAUM, 2012. "The Cost of Nationwide Fibre Access in Germany," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(85), pages 169-188, 1st quart.
    8. Neumann, Karl-Heinz & Vogelsang, Ingo, 2013. "How to price the unbundled local loop in the transition from copper to fiber access networks?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 893-909.
    9. Balmer, Roberto E., 2015. "Geographic regulation of next generation broadband networks: A review of practical cases and recent literature," 26th European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2015 127125, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    10. Balmer, Roberto, 2013. "Geographic Regulation and Cooperative Investment in Next Generation Broadband Networks - A Review of Recent Literature and Practical Cases," MPRA Paper 54080, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Balmer, Roberto E., 2015. "Cooperative investment in next generation broadband networks: A review of recent practical cases and literature," 26th European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2015 127124, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Next Generation Access; FTTH; cost modelling; GPON; P2P; competition; welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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