|
on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Anne Green (University of Warwick, Institute for Employment Research); Maria de Hoyos (University of Warwick, Institute for Employment Research); James Stewart (Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre, European Commission) |
| Abstract: | In the current economic context where a key policy emphasis is on employment, this project aims to inform policy of new forms of work and ways to enhance employability mediated by ICT. New applications of ICTs are continually changing the practices and possibilities of work: the way that tasks are executed, how they are organised; labour markets – how human capital is contracted, exploited and developed; and the ways and places that people are able and choose to work and develop their working lives. This report explores four areas of ICT-mediated work, crowdsourced labour, crowdfunding, online volunteering and internet-mediated work exchange (timebanks), that have until now been little explored. Over the last 10 years, however, they have established themselves and are growing in importance and impact. Very little research has been available that gives insights into how and why these services have been set up, how they are used, and the impact they have on people's lives. This report presents six in-depth case studies in the fields of crowdfunding, crowdsourcing for work and online work exchange systems for the exchange or recruitment of unpaid work. These cases are based on qualitative research, including long interviews with users and managers of the services, exploring why people use them, use practices, the skills required and acquired, problems and challenges. |
| Keywords: | Employability, Information Society, Work, Employment, Social Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Volunteering, Skills, Internet, Time Banks. |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc85751&r=ict |
| By: | Anderson, Gillian; Whalley, Jason |
| Abstract: | The Internet plays an increasingly central role in the lives of individuals. Through the Internet, individuals can engage in a wide array of activities such as shopping, participating in social networking activities, obtaining information and so forth. Given the extent to which the Internet is now used, those without access are placed at a disadvantage. They will miss out on the savings that occur when you shop online, lose contact with friends and family by not engaging in social networking and lack information on which to make decisions. This paper explores the role that libraries may play in providing Internet access. This is examined within the context of Glasgow, a large post-industrial city where Internet adoption is lower than in comparable cities and which has a large proportion of its population facing a range of socio-economic hardships. Primary data was collected, from library staff across the city and users in three areas of deprivation. The analysis demonstrates the role played by libraries as the provider of public Internet access. It also shows that this role is not without its difficulties - inadequate levels of resources have been provided to fulfil the multiple roles played by libraries in these communities. The data highlights the wide range of activities that users undertake online. In addition, the analysis shows how government policies shape the scope and quality of the infrastructure that is available while encouraging further use of the Internet in libraries. -- |
| Keywords: | Glasgow,libraries,Internet access |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88489&r=ict |
| By: | Mang, Constantin |
| Abstract: | This paper provides evidence that superior mobile Internet infrastructure increases take-up of location-based online services. Using data from the largest German online platform for restaurant reviews, I find that upgrading the 2G network to 3G increases the number of restaurant reviews and the share of reviews written on smartphones. To identify the causal effect of the network upgrade, I exploit the geographic location of restaurants relative to cellular network antennas and the terrain around them. Since the 3G signal is much more dependent on a clear line-of-sight than the 2G signal, some restaurants that were previously well covered by 2G are blocked from 3G reception due to geographic obstacles such as hills and forests. -- |
| Keywords: | Mobile Internet,infrastructure upgrade,broadband |
| JEL: | L86 R42 H54 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88511&r=ict |
| By: | Liebenau, Jonathan; Elaluf-Calderwood, Silvia |
| Abstract: | The business of the internet behaves distinctly in Europe from elsewhere, belying clichés about the digital economy being global, flat and neutral. Those differences are mainly associated with distinctive business practices and they are manifest in the architecture and dynamic features of digital traffic, the business models that are built upon that system, and the governance that applies. In this paper we describe these differences and show how the structure of competition, regulators and other governance mechanisms define n economic model for Euope distinct from that of the US and elsewhere. We base our analysis on evidence about the type, volume and routing of digital traffic. We show that in addition to the vast differential in revenue accrued through different types of traffic (e.g. SMS, voice, streaming videos, software download, etc.) there are great differences in the profitability that different stakeholders in the digital economy can command. These differences stem from different strategic uses off the internet architecture, different market structures, and crucially differences in the institutions and governance of the European internet. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88514&r=ict |
| By: | Valcke, Peggy; Wahyuningtyas, Sih Yuliana; Graef, Inge |
| Abstract: | [Introduction] Since several years companies in the internet economy have been offering online media platforms such as YouTube, Google and Facebook. These platforms are multi-sided markets. Instead of targeting one customer group, platform providers are competing for users, advertisers and developers. The fact that the platforms are offered exclusively on the internet, distinguishes them from other multi-sided markets such as the newspaper industry. Furthermore, contrary to ‘traditional’ companies in the information technology sector like Intel and Microsoft, platform providers do not bring their technology to the market but rely on deriving benefits from valuable information they collect about their users. By preventing users from exporting their data to competing platforms and by blocking competitors from accessing the user data on their platforms, these providers may gain such a powerful position allowing them to control the market to the detriment of effective competition and consumer welfare. This paper aims to analyze how European competition law may intervene to redress access problems in these multi-sided markets. In the first part of the paper, economic literature on two-sided markets will be studied in order to analyze how the multi-sided nature of online media platforms impacts the legal assessment of anticompetitive behaviour. The analysis on competition law issues will highlight market definition for multi-sided platforms, multi-sided nature and access to users, and merger assessment. In the second part of the paper, a comparative law approach will be used to study how European competition law can approach access issues in online media platforms. While there is no decision or judgment on these issues yet in the European Union, a few private antitrust cases dealing with these problems have already occurred in the United States. The US cases will be discussed and it will be analyzed whether EU competition authorities and courts will take the same approach. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88529&r=ict |
| By: | Hyland, Marie; Layte, Richard; Lyons, Sean; McCoy, Selina; Silles, Mary |
| Abstract: | This paper combines data from a government programme providing broadband access to primary schools in Ireland with survey microdata on schools', teachers' and pupils use of the internet to examine the links between public subsidies, classroom use of the internet and educational performance. Provision of broadband service under a government scheme was associated with more than a doubling of teachers' use of the internet in class after about a two year lag. Better computing facilities in schools were also associated with higher internet use, but advertised download speed was not statistically significant. A second set of models show that use of the internet in class was associated with higher average mathematics scores on standardised tests, but that any association with reading scores was marginal. A range of confounding factors is also explored, with results broadly in line with previous literature. -- |
| Keywords: | internet use,primary education,academic performance |
| JEL: | H52 L86 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88520&r=ict |
| By: | Luzak, J. A. |
| Abstract: | -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88468&r=ict |
| By: | Mitomo, Hitoshi; Otsuka, Tokio; Jeon, Stefan Y.; Cheng, John W. |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to investigate how the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mass media can motivate people in the disaster area to recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake with empirical data. Both ICT and mass media have played an important role after the disaster. While ICT has provided an effective way for information collection and dissemination, at the same time, the mass media has provided a reliable information source. Therefore, in order to examine the effects from the perspective of both the ICT and mass media, two different models are used. The first model examines the role of online civic participation driven by the use of ICT and mass media to see if it can create benefits offline from the perspective of social capital development. The second model investigates the effects of the use ICT and mass media on people's perception on the disaster and their intension on future recovery actions from the perspective of the cultivation theory from mass media studies. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88496&r=ict |
| By: | Ramon Sabes-Figuera (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Ioannis Maghiros (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | eHealth has been on the European Commission Information Society's policy agenda for more than a decade, from the eEurope initiative(European Commission 1999) to the i2010 Strategy(European Commission 2005), and most recently the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE)(European Commission 2010), eHealth was also one of the Lead Market Initiatives in 2007. Today it is the focus of one of the two first pilots under the EU2020 Strategy and its Innovation Union flagship initiative – the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The key strategic orientations of the European Commission eHealth policy are defined in the eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020 where eHealth is referred to as "the application of information and communications technologies across the whole range of functions that affect the health sector and including products, systems and services that go beyond simply Internet-based applications"(European Commission 2004). |
| Keywords: | European Hospital Survey, EHS, synthesis, outcomes, eHealth, deployment, availability, use, EHR, information exchange, infrastructure, composite, indicators, policy |
| JEL: | I11 I18 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc85845&r=ict |
| By: | Ramon Sabes-Figuera (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | A widespread uptake of eHealth technologies is likely to benefit European Healthcare systems both in terms of quality of care and financial sustainability and European society at large. This is why eHealth has been on the European Commission policy agenda for more than a decade. The objectives of the latest eHealth action plan developed in 2012 are in line with those of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Digital Agenda for Europe. This report, based on the analysis of the data from the "European Hospital Survey: Benchmarking deployment of e-Health services (2012–2013)" project, presents policy relevant results and findings for each of the 28 EU Member States as well as Iceland and Norway. The results highlighted here are based on the analysis of the survey descriptive results as well as two composite indicators on eHealth deployment and eHealth availability and use that were developed based on the survey's data. |
| Keywords: | European Hospital Survey, EHS, synthesis, outcomes, eHealth, deployment, availability, use, EHR, information exchange, infrastructure, composite, indicators, policy |
| JEL: | I11 I18 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc85927&r=ict |
| By: | Norberto Andrade (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Shara Monteleone (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Aaron Martin (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | This deliverable presents the work developed by the IPTS eID Team in 2012 on the large-encompassing topic of electronic identity. It is structured in four different parts: 1) eID: Relevance, Legal State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives; 2) Digital Natives and the Analysis of the Emerging Behavioural Trends Regarding Privacy, Identity and Their Legal Implications; 3) The "prospective" use of social networking services for government eID in Europe; and 4) Facial Recognition, Privacy and Identity in Online Social Networks. In the following, the main findings and arguments related to each of these parts are summarized. |
| Keywords: | electronic identity, data protection, privacy, European regulation, interoperability, social networks, anonymity, digital natives, impact assessment, security, profiling. |
| JEL: | K32 K36 K42 L96 M48 O20 O33 |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc78200&r=ict |
| By: | Ramon Sabes-Figuera (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Ioannis Maghiros (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | A widespread uptake of eHealth technologies is likely to benefit European Healthcare systems both in terms of quality of care and financial sustainability and European society at large. This is why eHealth has been on the European Commission policy agenda for more than a decade. The objectives of the latest eHealth action plan developed in 2012 are in line with those of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Digital Agenda for Europe. This report, based on the analysis of the data from the "European Hospital Survey: Benchmarking deployment of e-Health services (2012–2013)" project, presents policy relevant results and findings in this field. The results highlighted here are based on the analysis of the survey descriptive results as well as two composite indicators on eHealth deployment and eHealth availability and use that were developed based on the survey's data. Although they are closely interrelated, these results have been grouped in four sections and are presented in detail in this document. |
| Keywords: | European Hospital Survey, EHS, synthesis, outcomes, eHealth, deployment, availability, use, EHR, information exchange, infrastructure, composite, indicators, policy |
| JEL: | I11 I18 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc85854&r=ict |
| By: | Yoon, Chang-Ho; Na, Kyoung-Youn |
| Abstract: | This study examines the impact of ICT growth on the productivity effects of transportation infrastructure. Using dynamic panel data of OECD member countries, the study finds econometrically meaningful results on examining the complementarity between ICT and transportation infrastructures. The network effect of growth of motorway infrastructure in advanced countries tends to accelerate when the ICT network grows beyond a certain threshold level. -- |
| Keywords: | Intelligent Transport System,ICT convergence,productivity growth,complementarity |
| JEL: | O47 O38 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88526&r=ict |
| By: | Wulf, Jochen; Brenner, Walter |
| Abstract: | [Introduction] The diffusion of mobile broadband, which use cellular mobile communication technology, is at an advanced state in many countries. It is, however, unclear how mobile broadband diffusion affects other broadband services, and fixed broadband access in particular. Following the definition of ITU (2012) we define broadband as a high speed access to the Internet with download speeds of greater or equal to 256 kbit/s. Fixed broadband includes wired technologies such as cable, DSL and FTTH.1 Mobile broadband enables a non-stationary Internet access based on cellular mobile communication technologies (such as LTE, UMTS or WIMAX). Competitive effects between different broadband access technologies are of high importance for regulation as well as for competitive strategy: With regard to regulations, technology platform competition can have an effect on the competitive behavior in the individual markets. With regard to competitive strategy, competitive or complementarity effects between different access technologies significantly determine the success of service bundeling strategies. The goal of our research is twofold. Firstly, want to gain a deeper understanding of how mobile and fixed broadband diffusion affect each other based on the latest country level panel data (ITU 2012, World Bank 2013). A second objective of our research is to deepen the understanding of factors moderating the competitive relationship between fixed and mobile broadband. We therefore present a methodology for moderation analysis and exemplarily demonstrate its application. The paper is structured as follows. The related research is presented in the following section. The third section addresses the models, data and methodology of analysis. Thereafter, the results of the competition and the moderation analyses are presented and discussed. The conclusions section discusses limitations and next research steps. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88532&r=ict |
| By: | Jitsuzumi, Toshiya; Koguchi, Teppei |
| Abstract: | The purpose of the analysis is to clarify the effect of personal information on switching costs in the internet shopping market. In order to shop on internet shopping sites, users must register with the site and provide information. In addition, many internet shopping sites provide the user's viewing and buying histories on the site. If a user changes to another internet shopping site, the personal information that has been registered and stored on his or her previously used site is not transferred to the new site, so the user must re-register his or her personal information. In this analysis, we empirically demonstrate the extent to which registered information, viewing histories, and buying histories drive up switching costs. This analysis revealed that when users change internet shopping sites, purchase histories or registered personal information represent switching costs of the same magnitude as traditional switching costs, such as brand attachment of familiarity with the site. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88452&r=ict |
| By: | Briglauer, Wolfgang |
| Abstract: | Fibre deployment of next-generation high-speed broadband networks is considered to be a decisive development for any information-based society, yet investment activities and especially the adoption of fibre-based broadband services take place only very gradually in most countries. This work employs static and dynamic model specifications and identifies the most important determinants of the adoption of fibre-based broadband services with recent panel data from the European Union member states for the years from 2004 to 2012. The results show that the more effective previous broadband access regulation is, the more negative the impact on adoption, while competitive pressure from mobile networks affects adoption in a non-linear manner. It appears that the approach of strict cost-based access regulation embedded in the EU regulatory framework is at odds with the targets outlined in the European Commission's Digital Agenda. Finally, we also find evidence for substantial network effects underlying the adoption process. -- |
| Keywords: | Next-generation telecommunications networks,regulation,competition,adoption,network effects |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88494&r=ict |
| By: | Silva, Rita Filipe; Proença, Isabel; Vareda, João |
| Abstract: | The development of the broadband market is a key aspect of the economic and social growth of a country. However, despite the importance and the development of broadband market in Portugal in recent years, especially with the explosion of the number of mobile broadband accesses, the studies for the Portuguese case are rare. The present paper seeks to contribute to the discussion about the definition of the broadband market in Portugal, specifically studying the demand for broadband Internet and measuring the determinants that explain the use of each of the technologies available to provide broadband access, with emphasis on the differences between fixed and mobile accesses. Demand broadband functions were estimated using nested logit and multinomial discrete choice model. The primary source of information was ANACOM's Electronic Communications Services Consumption Survey, complemented with price information regarding the offers available in the market. The estimations obtained for the elasticities point out the probable existence of substitution between ADSL and cable and between these fixed broadband technologies and the mobile broadband. However, the inverse relation is not statistically significant, the demand for mobile broadband isn't constrained by the price of ADSL or of cable, which may reveal the existence of asymmetric substitution between fixed and mobile broadband accesses. These results have implications in the definition of the broadband market in Portugal which will be discussed. -- |
| Keywords: | Broadband,Market Definition,Demand,Regulation,Fixed-Mobile Substitution |
| JEL: | L51 L96 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88541&r=ict |
| By: | Baglioni, Laura; Calabrese, Armando; Ghiron, Nathan Levialdi |
| Abstract: | This paper analysis the Internet interconnection market and combine the main technical (i.e. service quality) and economic aspects (i.e. profits and utility) characterizing relations between market players (end users, EUs; Internet Service Providers, ISPs; Internet Backbone Providers, IBPs) in order to determine possible economic outcomes in the strategic interaction between them. The proposed model enables a comparison to be made between expected values of social welfare (i.e. EU utility and profits of both ISPs and IBPs) on the current scenario (Best Effort) and considering two classes of priority in the traffic routing. Finally we illustrate the model's applicability to an example of network. -- |
| Keywords: | Net Neutrality,pricing,competition,service quality,Internet interconnection |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88506&r=ict |
| By: | Grove, Nico; Agic, Damir; Sedlmeir, Joachim |
| Abstract: | Technological progress allows Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to carry out network manage-ment practices in a discriminatory fashion without being detected by their customers. This creates an opportunity that providers will exploit this information asymmetry in an opportunistic way by blocking and/or throttling certain services and applications without informing their customers in an adequate fashion that their Internet service is a restricted one. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the extent to which reporting policies - as im-plemented through the General Terms and Conditions (GTCs) - of selected ISPs match with the display of discriminatory behavior by those ISPs as shown by Grove & Agic, (2012). Our analysis examines whether ISPs in Europe and the USA are informing their subscribers adequately about discriminatory traffic management. We, thus, analyze GTCs, signed between ISPs and their subscribers by applying a cross-country/provider approach, focusing on three main aspects of the contractual agreement: (1) availability of service, (2) obligations of the customers and (3) the contractual agreements concerning any intervention in services by ISPs... -- |
| Keywords: | Network Neutrality,General Terms and Conditions,Regulation,Telecommunications,User Discrimination |
| JEL: | D22 D63 G13 I38 K23 L86 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88473&r=ict |
| By: | Lee, Younkwan; Cha, H. K.; Park, W.; Ha, S. W.; Lee, B. N.; Park, K. |
| Abstract: | Standards are those generally agreed through repetitive use. They also make products and services more reliable. Thus, when developing standards, one should at first be aware of what the market actually needs not what the developers and providers want. If not, unnecessary standards will eventually end up being unused and dismissed. In this sense, standards developed primarily based on users' point of view are much more reusable. As information and communication technology (ICT) being accelerated these days, the number of standardisation activities has been dramatically increased and a great number of group and international standards has been developed all over the world. Therefore, Standards Developing Organisations (SDOs) follow routine maintenance procedures on their developed standards in order to assure their quality. In this paper, the authors propose a methodology for managing developed standards to enhance standards reusability in terms of standards development, maintenance, and management. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88504&r=ict |
| By: | Kim, Kibae; Jung, Sungdo; Lee, Changjun; Hwang, Junseok |
| Abstract: | The role of ICT in the economic growth in Korea is a great attraction to the telecommunication society interested in the relationship among ICT, innovation policy and economic growth. However, prior research concentrates on investigating the effect of policy on innovation and economic growth, but misses the mechanism how a policy affects the technological system which interacts with public institutes, universities and private firms. In this paper, we analyze the structure of technology evolution in Korea with empirical data of patents to understand the prosperity of ICT sector in Korea. To do so, we define a technology network, or a set of nodes and links, representing technology fields and the relations between the fields, respectively, and measure the network topology and position per year between 1970 and 2010. Our results propose that the technology network maintains the scalefree topology, but the entities of the hub positions are gradually replaced emerging entities on the invariant network topology. Our findings are expected to motivate ICT innovation studies to understand the evolutionary mechanism of ICT industry in the systematic perspective of technology, and improve the policy of ICT innovation. -- |
| Keywords: | Industry Change,Information and Communication Technology,Network Analysis,Patent Analysis |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88508&r=ict |
| By: | Rajabiun, Reza; Middleton, Catherine |
| Abstract: | This article explores the impact of public policy, technological change, and the development of Internet connectivity in EU members. The analysis illustrates that the results of previous empirical literature on the interplay between regulation, competition, and investment depend on the construction of indicators employed to evaluate this interaction. Furthermore, the article points out that the traditional policy model and related empirical literature treats fixed capital inputs in networks as a measure of digital infrastructure quality/outcomes. Using broadband speed measurements between 2007 and 2012, the article addresses this gap in the literature and evaluates the determinants of digital infrastructure quality in the EU. The analysis suggests the primary driver of network quality in the medium to long term is the willingness and/or ability of operators to reinvest more of their revenues in network capacity improvements. -- |
| Keywords: | Broadband Networks,European Union,Regulation,Technological Change,Federalism |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88536&r=ict |
| By: | Gruber, H.; Hätönen, J.; Koutroumpis, P. |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the net benefits of the implementation of the broadband infrastructure deployment targets by 2020 as entailed by the Digital Agenda for Europe Initiative set forth by the European Commission. We estimate the returns from broadband infrastructure for the period 2005-2011, differentiating the impact of broadband by levels of adoption and speed while accounting for reverse causality and extensive heterogeneity. We find that in the base case scenario the overall benefits outweigh the costs by 32% for the entire European Union. We further extrapolate the returns by country under different scenarios of implementation. In most cases the benefits are substantially well above the costs. The findings lead to policy recommendations related to the role of public support for the generalized build out of broadband infrastructure. -- |
| Keywords: | broadband networks,economic impact,Digital Agenda |
| JEL: | O33 O38 O52 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88492&r=ict |
| By: | Sandgren, Patrik; Mölleryd, Bengt G. |
| Abstract: | This paper builds on the notion that the market for electronic communication is doing the investments in broadband. Taking its starting point in the aim for the Digital Agenda the paper examine the role of public money in the deployment of broadband networks, so called Next Generation Networks (NGA). Using a unique data set of broadband investments, the paper reveals that one of most advanced broadband nations, Sweden, is benefitting from a substantial involvement of public money. In the Swedish case, City Urban Networks, owned by municipalities and spurred by public money, have been of significant importance. Through the City Urban Networks, a real alternative to the incumbent has been established and increased roll out and uptake of fiber has taken place. The public money has altogether shrugged the market and provided more choices to the consumers - while at the same time making the broadband target set in the agenda reachable. -- |
| Keywords: | Next Generation Networks,fiber networks,City Urban Networks,super fast broadband,investments,Digital Agenda,broadband targets |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88544&r=ict |
| By: | Tselekounis, Markos; Xylogianni, Eirini; Varoutas, Dimitris; Martakos, Drakoulis |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the incentives of an unregulated monopolist to undertake the socially optimal investment in NGA networks when it takes into account the fact that the NGA deployment is a two-dimensional investment decision concerning both the quality (or equivalently, technology) and the geographic coverage. It is found that both the privately and the socially optimal investment decisions result in a geographically differentiated NGA deployment implying that different quality NGA networks are deployed in different geographic areas. In particular, NGA networks of higher (lower) quality are deployed in the more (less) densely populated geographic areas. Although such geographically differentiated NGA investment leads the monopolist to provide a nationwide NGA deployment, it is found that the monopolist underinvests compared to the socially optimal levels of both technology and geographic coverage. In addition, since the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy concern both the NGA technology and the NGA coverage, this paper shows that the first objective of providing all Europeans with access to much higher internet speeds of above 30 Mbps is feasible when the demand for NGA-based services is significantly elastic, whereas the second objective of providing internet connection speeds of 100 Mbps to 50% or more of European households is not a feasible goal. -- |
| Keywords: | broadband,geographic areas,investment incentives,next generation access networks,telecommunications |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88533&r=ict |
| By: | Peng, Bonnie |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to examine the process of the switchover in Taiwan, the technical standards, legal considerations, resistance from industry and the detailed plan to close analogue signals before the due day. When most technologically advanced countries around the world closed their analogue signals and embraced digital television, Taiwan followed suit and asked terrestrial stations to got digital before the opening of 2012 London Olympic Games. The government in Taiwand believed that the deployment of terrestrial digital infrastructure, the supply of affordable reception equipment (set-top boxes) and marketing campaigns to stimulate consumer demand would ensure the digital switchover would be a success. It could be concluded that, technically, the digital switchover went smoothly. But there's no digital dividend spectrum vacuumed and designed for future use -- |
| Keywords: | digital switchover,digital dividend |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88538&r=ict |
| By: | Evenepoel, Simon; Van der Wee, Marlies; Verbrugge, Sofie; Lannoo, Bart; Pickavet, Mario |
| Abstract: | In the current telecommunications domain, a clear trend towards vertical disintegration is observed, whereas multiple actors take up different roles in the value chain instead of one monopoly operator that is responsible for the full service delivery. Although this trend is observed in different network technologies (fixed, wireless, mobile, satellite) and for different applications (digital TV, mobile applications, health services, etc.), cross-domain case comparisons are hard to make due to the distinct definitions of roles and actors. However, despite this lack of common framework, clear similarities exist that could make room for a qualitative comparison of the different interaction models, which is the scope of this paper. By defining relative abstract roles (offer, delivery platform and support platform) and the interactions between these roles as revenue streams, different financial models are identified. By mapping them on physical network roles in specific cases, these financial models are analyzed with respect to business characteristics such as innovation, competition, sustainability and standardization. The paper concludes that Over-The-Top financial models stimulate standardization, while Single Interaction Point models are more sustainable and hence support technological innovation. Indirect Support models balance out advantages and disadvantages of the two other types of models, and are therefore more neutral. -- |
| Keywords: | Multi-Actor Analysis,Telecommunications,Financial model |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88493&r=ict |
| By: | Stocker, Volker |
| Abstract: | The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has recently proposed a framework to assess the reasonableness of traffic management (TM) practices. This paper discusses BEREC's proposal from a network economic perspective focusing on the underlying concepts of congestion, application-agnosticism and layer separation. It can be shown that within the current European regulatory framework the adverse use of TM by network operators is no cause for concern as long as regulatory objectives are fulfilled and significant market power is adequately disciplined. Furthermore, entrepreneurial search processes for optimal price and quality differentiation may require the implementation of TM practices which deviate from strict application-agnosticism and thus violate BEREC's layer separation principle. They may according to BEREC be labeled unreasonable. Instead of the complex case-by-case assessment inducing regulatory micro-management necessary in BEREC's framework, an alternative from a network economic perspective is proposed. Based on an economic understanding of congestion, a market-driven interpretation of applicationagnosticism and a corresponding layer separation constitute the main pillars of a resilient and dynamic understanding of TM. -- |
| JEL: | L51 L86 L96 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88542&r=ict |
| By: | Idota, Hiroki; Bunno, Teruyuki; Tsuji, Masatsugu |
| Abstract: | One of the common features of innovative SMEs identified from our previous surveys and in-depth interviews is innovation capability accumulated inside the firm, which enables them to create new products which meet customer needs and to cooperate with the other firms. The factors that SMEs achieve innovation are complex, and the causal relationships between factors have not been sufficiently clarified yet. This paper attempts to clarify the innovation process using covariance structure analysis, in particular focusing on the role ICT. Seven hypotheses are demonstrated by two models. The results obtained are as follows: (i) top management's participation and employee's motivation in the innovation process promote the effect of introducing ICT; (ii) this effect of ICT use raises innovation capability; in particular ability to connect external linkages; (iii) ICT use, innovation capability and external linkages enhance innovation activity; and (iv) effect of ICT use and innovation capability promote innovation directly. Thus this paper identifies that the effect of introducing ICT promotes innovation, and it is indispensable for innovation in Japanese SMEs. -- |
| Keywords: | ICT,Innovation,innovation capability,external linkages,covariance structure analysis |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88463&r=ict |
| By: | Hallingby, Hanne Kristine; Hartviksen, Gjermund; Elaluf-Calderwood, Silvia; Sørensen, Carsten |
| Abstract: | -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88517&r=ict |
| By: | Knieps, Günter |
| Abstract: | The changing role of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard setting process from designing and implementing the best effort TCP/IP protocol as a universal standard towards a platform for dealing with the increasing need for variety in the design of a Quality of Service (QoS) differentiated traffic management architecture is demonstrated. The IETF's contributions to a flexible open transmission architecture able to supply the required transmission qualities for the different applications provide the relevant pillars towards a Generalized Differentiated Service (DiffServ) architecture. Furthermore, the role of entrepreneurial traffic management within the Generalized DiffServ architecture and the division of labor between the IETF and entrepreneurial traffic management is analyzed. Within the umbrella architecture of Generalized DiffServ with the potential to combine basic elements of QoS differentiated traffic architectures a flexible framework for entrepreneurial traffic quality differentiation strategies is evolving. Its basic characteristic is market driven network neutrality with all applications bearing the opportunity costs of their required traffic capacities. As a consequence an artificial market split between best effort TCP and managed services would conflict with the integrated service approach of the IETF. Finally, the implementation of Generalized DiffServ via Next Generation networks is considered. -- |
| JEL: | L51 L86 L96 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88507&r=ict |
| By: | Parcu, Pier Luigi; Silvestri, Virginia |
| Abstract: | For many years electronic communications has been one of the most important areas of policy intervention for the European Union. Liberalisation and privatisation of the telecommunications industry have been very important topics of the policy debate in the two decades starting from 1990 to 2010. In these years the EU developed a sophisticated regulatory framework inspired to the principle of favouring entrance of new players in the sector and characterised by a strong pro-competition flavour. More recently, however, the necessity to mobilise important investments for the creation of new Next Generation Networks, capable of delivering to European citizens all the benefits of the digital revolution, has shed doubts on the validity of the established framework. This paper discusses the solutions adopted during the liberalisation process and summarizes some of the key future challenges to the existing regulatory framework. -- |
| JEL: | K23 L43 L51 L96 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88509&r=ict |
| By: | Shi, Lei; Sung, Ki Won; Zander, Jens |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we will investigate the potential opportunities and challenges for deploying a converged platform in the UHF Broadcasting band (470-790 MHz) to replace the legacy systems and provide terrestrial audio-visual and dataservice. As recent development shows, both mobile broadband and terrestrial broadcasting (DTT) now overlap to offer audio-visual services to customers. Whereas DTT is designed only for audio-visual content, mobile broadband systems are converged all-IP platforms that may carry a multitude of services in unified and device-agnostic way. DTT used to be highly effective, when the task was to distribute a few TV channels to large audiences. However, for the rapidly increasing long-trail of niche television channels, each with diminishingly few viewers, DTT is no longer an efficient way of using the spectrum. Progressively re-farming of the UHF broadcasting band for more flexible and efficient use, is high on the list of discussion items in the upcoming World Radio Conference 2015, it is highly relevant to evaluate this option with a holistic view. This paper will present findings from the analysis of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of mobile and broadcasting industries in their new roles in the converged ecosystem. Detailed discussions are focused on identifying the possible benefits and threats from the perspectives of the broadcasters, mobile network operators, digital terrestrial network operators and the society as a whole. Overall we consider such a converged platform is a win-win solution for most of the stakeholders thanks to the increase in spectrum and network efficiency and flexibility improvement in the all-IP network. Nevertheless, there are still challenging issues to be addressed, such as the compensation and new business model for the digital terrestrial network operator and ensuring the quality of service for audio-visual content delivery in cellular network. -- |
| Keywords: | Convergence,DTT broadcast,mobile broadband,UHF broadcasting band |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88456&r=ict |
| By: | Laya, Andres; Bratu, Vlad-loan; Markendahl, Jan |
| Abstract: | Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications refers to the automate exchange of information between devices for control and monitoring applications. This type of communication is not new since automated systems have been present for more than three decades. However, miniaturization of device's size, reduction of production costs and drop in communication fees (altogether with the massive adoption of real-time access of information in current society) are expanding the set of applications and solutions currently under consideration. The real complexity relies on the fact that M2M is not only an add-on communication solution, like the case of traditional human-centric broadband communications. M2M usually entails a change in the core business of an industry, since the relationship with external partners and the internal tasks can be radically modified In this paper, we anaylise the players involved in M2M communications and how they position themselves in a market which requires them to adjust their traditional business approach. The main question addressed in this work refers to which players are investing in M2M, which is their view and how could their approach affect the current ICT sector? We highlight the dominance and relationship between different actors and also look at barriers that prevent investments, regulations in the area and standardization efforts... -- |
| Keywords: | Machine-to-Machine communications,M2M,Internet-of-Things,Techno-economic analysis,Service provisioning,Investment |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88475&r=ict |
| By: | Manuela Deidda (Università di Cagliari); Francisco Lupiañez (Open Evidence); Ioannis Maghiros (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | The European Hospital Survey: Benchmarking deployment of e-Health services (2012–2013) project is the continuation of eHealth benchmarking Phase III survey. This survey funded and managed by Unit F4 of DG CONNECT, gathered data from a statistically representative sample of European acute hospitals in order to benchmark their level of eHealth deployment. IPTS researchers were part of the steering board of this project and were given the opportunity to access and use the data as soon as they were ready. In 2011 as a result of this collaboration between IPTS and DG CONNECT/F4 "A composite index for the benchmarking of eHealth Deployment in European acute Hospitals. Distilling reality in manageable form for evidence based policy" was published. The aim of the European Hospital Survey: Benchmarking deployment of e-Health services (2012–2013) Project is to design, gather and analyse eHealth deployment in European acute Hospitals to develop a follow up of the composite indicator carried out by IPTS and to identify the trends among the other benchmarking exercises. |
| Keywords: | European Hospital Survey, EHS, methodology, pilot, sample, universe, census, stratification, interviews |
| JEL: | I11 I18 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc85871&r=ict |
| By: | Chao, Caleb Fu-Cheng |
| Abstract: | The China telecom mobile business has grown fast during the past ten years. For example, China Mobil subscribers have increased from 13.68 million to reach 1.146 billion in March 2013; Mobile Internet subscribers grew by 13.94 million in March to reach a total of 817.39 million. The mobile teledensity (penetration rate) in 2012 rose to 82.6, up from 73.6 at the end of 2011. Digitalizing the signals of Audio/Video for TV is the first step for digital Mobile TV. There were four stages (2003-2015) for the implementation of China's audio/video digitalization. Stage one: major cities in the eastern coastal and western inland parts of China as well as provincial capitals in the centre of the nation by the end of 2005. The second stage aimed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which included cities completed in the first stage. In the third stage, cities would be added in the middle and western areas. The fourth stage will end in 2015 when the whole country will be able to connect to digital cable. Analogue TV broadcasts will be terminated in 2015... -- |
| Keywords: | China's Mobile TV Standard,Regulation,The Actor-Network Theory |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88454&r=ict |
| By: | Tseng, Kuo-Feng |
| Abstract: | As the voice profits of the mobile phone companies continuously decline in Taiwan, they need to find other revenues from the digital contents to survive in the mobile age. The mobile phone companies had created several online platforms to sell digital video, music and books. Especially in the past two years, as more and more customers had the big screens of portable tablet PC or smart phones, the sale of the e-books becomes the major marketing strategy to promote the penetration of smart phones in Taiwan. However, few e-books were available in the mobile online platforms in the past few years, so this study conducted the survey of the book publishing industry to understand the major factors. The results show: first, few copyrights of the popular oversea books are available; second, only the book conglomerate are willing to take the risk to launch the e-book services; third, currently the sales of the e-books are not able to compensate the costs; fourth, there is no such a platform to let all kind of e-books available in Taiwan. -- |
| Keywords: | e-book,digital book,business model,industry survey,mobile device |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88545&r=ict |
| By: | Kocsis, Viktória |
| Abstract: | Network operators of competing infrastructures in European electronic communications markets face asymmetric regulation: incumbent telecommunications firms are required to open their networks for retail broadband competition, while cable companies have no such obligation. Furthermore, for historical reasons, cable companies have better quality networks thanks to the DOCSIS 3.0 technology than DSL-based telecom firms. How would the market structure of electronic communications markets and the quality of networks develop in the presence of asymmetric regulation and original quality differences? Based on a location model for product differentiation, i find that access revenues can compensate incumbent telecom firms for the loss due to having a lower quality network than cable companies. Therefore, access obligation reduces the incentives of telecom firms to compete with cable companies by upgrading network quality. In the absence of retail competitors without networks, however, telecom firms need to upgrade network quality to be able to remain competitive with cable companies. Furthermore and in line with the existing literature, the exclusion of retail competitors is more likely in the presence of higher access prices and stronger substitutuion between firms' products. Finally, if the original differences between network quality is large and high returns on investments are unlikely, telecom firms may not be able to invest sufficiently and lose substantially from their market shares. -- |
| Keywords: | Telecommunications,Investments,Quality,Access regulation,Asymmetric regulation |
| JEL: | L51 L96 L10 K23 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88521&r=ict |
| By: | Fabritz, Nadine; Falck, Oliver |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates telecommunication operator investment in broadband infrastructure after local deregulation of the wholesale broadband access market. Using a panel dataset covering all 5,598 exchange areas in the United Kingdom, we exploit regional differences in deregulation following a 2008 reform. Controlling for initial conditions, first-difference estimates show that local deregulation increases local investment in infrastructure by both the incumbent and competitors. -- |
| Keywords: | Telecommunication,Regulation,Infrastructure Investment,Wholesale Broadband Access,United Kingdom |
| JEL: | L50 L96 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88513&r=ict |
| By: | Rohman, Ibrahim Kholilul; Bohlin, Erik |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to measure the impact of broadband speed access and upgrades on the household income based on a survey comprising 20,000 respondents in eight OECD and three BRIC countries in 2010 (Brazil, India and China). The study is novel, as most previous studies on broadband emphasize the penetration rate as the variable of interest. Moreover, by digging deeper on broadband speed (rather than broadband penetration rate), the problem concerning broadband definition that varies between countries can also be avoided. To investigate the impacts, a treatment effect model is employed using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Two aspects are being investigated: the impact of broadband access and the impact of varying broadband speeds on income. For access impact analysis, the samples are one with broadband access at a particular speed level against the other without the broadband access. Moreover, for the speed upgrades, the comparisons are carried out at various speed levels, e.g. users with 2 Mbps compared with the ones with 512 kbps. The results reveal that obtaining access to 0.5 Mbps in the OECD countries would not be expected to yield an increased income. The study suggests a minimum speed requirement where the households are expected to benefit from broadband lies somewhere between 2 Mbps and 4 Mbps. For BIC countries, however, the impact is already visible at 0.5 Mbps. At this speed, broadband users have a greater likelihood to gain 800 USD compared with the unconnected ones which is equivalent to 70 USD per month per household. For speed upgrades, the speed level giving the highest benefit to income in BIC and OECD countries is the same (4 to 8 Mbps), even though higher speed levels (8 to 24 Mbps) seems to contribute more in OECD than BIC countries. Note that the survey was carried out in 2010 when the sample average speed level in OECD countries was only about 4-5 Mbps and 2 Mbps in BIC countries. The analysis is supported by a reasonably strong statistical significance in OECD but not for the BIC countries due to sample limitation. -- |
| Keywords: | broadband,speed,household income,OECD,BICs,propensity score matching,treatment effect |
| JEL: | O11 O14 O32 O33 N84 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88531&r=ict |
| By: | Longstaff, P. H. |
| Abstract: | This paper puts together some of the author's previous work on the concept of resilience. It is appropriate for general readers with no background in the topic. It provides abbreviated theoretical foundations for business resilience, including a brief discussion of business organizations as complex adaptive systems and lists their important attributes. This is followed by a short discussion of resilience characteristics that are seen in multiple systems and are an important for systems that must operate under high uncertainty. Resilience strategies are distinguished from resistance strategies, the costs and benefits of both are discussed. Two different types of resilience are identified: static resilience and adaptive resilience. The paper concludes with strategic and tactical recommendations for communication businesses. -- |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse13:88497&r=ict |