Page 8 - bluebook.doc

were also technology developers who created
truly innovative services.
1.3.2 The “new” vis-à-vis traditional
telephony services naturally evolved in two
main directions: terminal mobility, giving
rise to wireless services, and transmission of
data between pieces of IT equipment. The
significant fact of working with the same raw
material – information – gave rise to
technological convergence, which would
ultimately be consolidated as digitization of
telecommunications. With the increased
capabilities, broadband services, such as
image, sound, video, etc, would later be
inc orporated.
1.3.3 This evolution did not take place
independently of service regulation. In
general, the transfer of state monopolies to
the private sector was limited to fixed or
basic telephony services, these service
providers being granted the privilege of
exclusivity while restricted to a single
activity, in turn promoting the expansion of
supply in a framework of competition with
other services.
1.3.4 It is now the case in some countries
that there are large segments of the ir
population which, owing to their geographic
location or other factors, in the best of cases
are only able to access basic telephone
service. At a time when most information
4
transfer is supported by other services,
providers have developed more versatile
networks, but their coverage is meager and is
targeted at highly selective markets.
1.3.5 Because of its inherent efficiency of
resource use and the advantages it affords the
public through integration of services,
technological convergence is emerging as a
potential solution to meet needs for access to
many services that today can no longer be
viewed as luxuries.
1.3.6 Account must also be taken of the
correspondence between technological
innovations and market requirements, the
latter meaning those stemming from the
genuine demands for communication of the
public and the economic and productive
sectors. In that context, it is imperative to
have in place telecommunication policies
designed to correct imbalances in the supply
of services.
1.3.7 There are regulatory elements and,
therefore, well-conceived policies of sector
companies that may be highly useful in
achieving the objectives of balanced
development of countries and a market taking
into account technological convergence
where, along with competition that promotes
innovation, providers have obligations and
incentives to ensure the coverage required by
the community.