We use our wide-ranging telecoms market expertise in primary research, technology/network design and costing, business models, market demand, and regulation to assist our clients in their policy decision making.
Relevant experience
Our high-profile projects in this area include:
- We conducted a study on the introduction of spectrum trading across Europe on behalf of the European Commission. This included identification of the options associated with introducing spectrum trading (e.g. property rights definition, trading mechanisms, phasing of implementation) which Member States could potentially adopt, and an assessment of any areas in which co-ordination would result in additional benefits for the Community.
- For the European Commission, we conducted a study contributing to its 2006 review of the EU Regulatory Framework, in collaboration with law firm Hogan & Hartson LLP. We considered issues arising from likely sector developments over the next five to ten years as well as those already experienced in implementing the existing Framework, and gathered opinions from a wide range of operators and user organisations across the EU25. This led to the development of a series of recommendations for amendments to the Framework from 2010.
- For the UK government, we assessed the current and likely future state of the broadband market in the UK, from both the demand and supply sides. We estimated the costs and anticipated benefits of meeting broadband demand and provided examples of public/private partnership activity connected with the roll-out of broadband services. The report was used by the UK government to inform its decisions on public policy issues relating to broadband access.
- We undertook a high-profile study for Ofcom to recommend the most appropriate award process for UHF spectrum that had been freed as a consequence of the switchover to digital television. The project included an extensive market, technical and economic analysis of alternative uses of the spectrum and consideration of any areas where market failures may arise.
- We helped the Belgian regulator, IBPT, implement the New Regulatory Framework in collaboration with a legal partner. This includes market reviews of the 17 relevant markets (as initially recommended by the European Commission). The project supported the definition, analysis and identification of remedies to be applied to all the relevant markets.
