Contents of module
- Regulation
- eLearning main Index
Terminology
This section explains how terms are used in this module, indicating also the relevance that each term has in this study programme.
Please note that the ‘usage’ is not intended to be a formal definition of the term in question.
Regulator
Usage
A telecom ‘Regulator’ is an individual or organisation whose responsibility it is to manage the telecoms industry.
Relevance to Module
In most countries the telecoms industry is in the process of changing from a monopoly situation to one where competition is widespread. One of the primary responsibilities of the Regulator is to manage that change.
Licence
Usage
A ‘licence’ is an official permit for a company that can offer a specific set of products or services to supply those products or services to the community.
Relevance to Module
Licences invariably contain a set of terms and conditions that must be met or the licence can be revoked. It is usually the Regulator’s responsibility to draw up the terms of the licence and to ensure that they are met.
Licensee
Usage
A ‘licensee’ is an individual or organisation that has been issued with a licence to supply the products or services stated in the licence.
Relevance to Module
A considerable part of a Regulator’s work is concerned with ensuring that the players in the industry, the licensees, abide by the terms of their licences.
Class Licence
Usage
A ‘class licence’ is a licence that is issued to a range of licensees who provide different services.
Relevance to Module
One of the tasks that faces many Regulators is to simplify the regulatory process. Issuing class licences where detail is minimised contributes to this simplification.
Telecommunications
Usage
The term ‘telecommunications’ is taken to mean the business of transporting information from one place to another electronically. The information can be in one or more forms, including voice, data, sound and video.
In this module, the term is abbreviated to ‘telecoms’.
Relevance to Module
Telecoms is the centrepiece of this module, and therefore a common understanding of what is meant by the term is essential.
Operator
Usage
The term ‘operator’ is taken to be an organisation that builds telecoms infrastructure with a view to that infrastructure being used to transmit voice, data, video or any other multimedia material.
Sometimes the term ‘carrier’ is used instead.
Relevance to Module
Through their infrastructure, operators provide the basis on which the whole telecoms industry functions. Consequently, their role is critical to the industry.
Supplier
Usage
A ‘supplier’ is an individual or organisation that supplies telecom-related products or services.
Relevance to Module
Operators are suppliers in that they provide a service, in their case the infrastructure over which others can transmit voice, data, video or other multimedia material. The organisations that provide the material that is transmitted to the end users are also suppliers.
It has become common to refer to the first group as facilities suppliers and the second group as content suppliers.
Regulators must ensure that all content suppliers are able to reach their customers through the telecoms infrastructure on a non-discriminatory basis.
Competition
Usage
The term ‘competition’ is taken to mean those activities conducted by two or more businesses that are vying with each other to gain market superiority.
Relevance to Module
It is a commonly held belief among economists and others that competition is necessary in order to maximise benefits to the consumer.
As a result, one of the main tasks given to Regulators is to foster competition and to ensure that it is conducted on a fair basis.
Interconnection
Usage
‘Interconnection’ is the process by which the network of one operator is connected to that of another operator so that traffic can pass between them.
Relevance to Module
Achieving network interconnection, on an equitable basis and in a realistic time-frame, is the bigest problem that Regulators face. Interconnection involves resolving a wide range of issues that relate to technical, commercial and political matters.
Regulators tend to hope that the operators involved will reach mutually satisfactory interconnection agreements between themselves, and therefore no regulatory involvement is required. Unfortunately, in most countries this does not happen, and Regulators have to step in to what is a complex and difficult situation.
Universal Service Obligation
Usage
A ‘Universal Service Obligation’ (USO) is the obligation placed on one or more operators to ensure that basic telephone services are available to the whole community at the same quality, with the same availability and at the same cost, to the extent that this is reasonably possible.
Relevance to Module
A USO usually includes the provision of a community service to the handicapped, to the elderly and to remote locations. It also includes the provision of emergency services.
In many countries the USO obligation is undertaken by one operator, with the others contributing to the cost according to arrangements agreed or mandated by the Regulator.