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Connectivity in the Commercial Internet

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  • Crémer, Jacques
  • Rey, Patrick
  • Tirole, Jean

Abstract

We study the ‘backbone market’ in the Internet. After discussing the structure of the Internet, we use an extension of the Katz‐Shapiro network model to analyze the strategies that would be used by dominant backbone. We show that a larger backbone prefers a lower quality interconnection than the smaller one. We then analyze a ‘targeted degradation’ strategy where the larger backbone lowers the quality of interconnection to its smaller rivals in turn. Finally, we show that the qualitative results are robust to the possibility of ‘multihoming’ by clients.
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Suggested Citation

  • Crémer, Jacques & Rey, Patrick & Tirole, Jean, 1999. "Connectivity in the Commercial Internet," IDEI Working Papers 87, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI), Toulouse, revised 2000.
    • Handle: RePEc:ide:wpaper:1225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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