This international volume presents a comprehensive, comparative study of the transformation of the European telecommunications industry from 1990 to the present. The book focuses on the old incumbent operators and their dramatic change from state agencies to listed companies. It analyzes the liberalization process, as well as the corporatization and privatization of these companies. The contributors assess the conditions for the transformations taking place; the driving forces for change; the effects to management, the efforts of the EU during these processes, and ultimately, the role of the private owner. Political science publications have all but excluded analysis of the newly privatized companies; their contribution to the liberalization process both before and after privatization; and the interplay between the national political and company levels. The book redresses this shortcoming, and also features a double empirical focus in that the main national incumbents in Europe are analyzed and compared to Telenor, the Norwegian former incumbent.

This book offers the first comprehensive overview of contemporary systems for secure electronic/digital postage. It introduces a taxonomy of electronic postage systems and explains their security risks and countermeasures. The underlying cryptographic mechanisms are introduced and explained, and the industrial-scale electronic postage systems existing worldwide are sorted out with respect to this taxonomy. The author also discusses privacy and anonymous mail, the state of standardization of electronic postage, and the process of security evaluation and testing of electronic postage systems.

Throughout the world, governments are reducing their involvement in the area of telecommunications. Some telecommunications are being fully or partly privatized while others are experiencing deregulation. The situation in six Asian countries, four European countries, and two Latin American countries are examined. In addition, there is one chapter on the telecommunications business in developing countries as a whole. All sections explore the interaction with encroaching competition, new technology, and a desire for greater freedom.

Blends technical detail and industry analysis in coverage of all aspects of fiber optics as it relates to CATV. Includes applications of principles and sufficient technical information to plan an advanced cable system, and can be used for strategic planning as well as engineering and network plannin

xiii * We have almost the cheapest letter price in the OEeD. * We've quadrupled the retail outlets where you can buy stamps, but closed three quarters of our Post Offices. On time delivery is better than 97%. * The workforce has been reduced by 40%, with a 25% increase in volumes over the period. Real unit costs, measured by total real expenditure divided by total volumes, have been reduced by over 20%. What do these results and achievements mean for policy setters around the world? In particular, do these results for New Zealand Post prove that it is a commercial business, and what are the lessons for other postal businesses? Market Forces New Zealand Post presently has a limited letter monopoly, a 45 cent letter price against an 80 cent competitive floor price. The existence of this level of protection somehow negates the company's commercial achievements. The combination of high efficiency and low prices cannot persuade everyone that the results are not my view, are the only ones that can solely monopoly driven. Market forces, in answer my question: is New Zealand Post a commercial organization? We need the test offree and open competition to see whether we've got the business formula right. Before advancing this argument, which in essence is the case for deregulation, it may be useful to distinguish between market behavior and Post behavior.

This book examines the extensive changes in markets, technologies and value chains that telecommunication companies are currently confronted with. It analyzes the crossroads they have reached and the choices that now need to be made - to be a bit pipe or a trendsetter of digitalization. Based on an analysis of the key challenges for telcos, the book derives future market scenarios and puts forward recommendations for how they can successfully position themselves. It proposes a framework based on seven "levers," which addresses concrete measures in each step of the value chain, ranging from technology, IT and processes, to innovation, marketing and sales issues. The book discusses the current challenges and provides both general recommendations and concrete solutions. Respected experts illustrate innovative strategic and technical trends and provide insights gained in real-life transformation projects. Recent developments in the areas of regulation, product development, competition between over-the-top (OTT) providers and telcos, as well as technical innovations like 5G, SDN/NFV, LEO satellites and MEC are discussed. Accordingly, practitioners, managers and researchers alike will benefit from the book's wealth of examples and up-to-date insights.

Drawing on a range of global case studies, Market Distortions in Privatisation Processes illustrates the ways in which market distortions damaged the ability of privatisation processes to yield concrete benefits to consumers. The book compares and contrasts privatisations of state-owned enterprises around the world where competition informed the regulatory design and thus liberated consumer welfare. In particular, the cases are drawn from the electricity and gas sector, the telecoms industry, and postal services - each of which has been frequently privatised in different context. For each industry, the book explores the UK and US experiences as well as looking at international cases from both developed and developing countries including, where appropriate, Japan, Colombia, Romania and Mexico. The emphasis is on analysing the impact that market distortions have had on the outcomes of those privatisations. The book also looks at how public service objectives were achieved and how they too can be designed in pro-competitive or anti-competitive ways. This book will be of significant interest to readers in international business, economics, and law.

Current Directions in Postal Reform brings together leading practitioners, worldwide postal administrations, and the courier industry as well as a number of regulators, academic economists, mailers and lawyers, to examine some of the major policy and regulatory issues facing the postal and delivery industry. Issues addressed include international postal policy; the universal service obligation; regulation; competition, entry, and the role of scale and scope economies; the nature and role of cost analysis in the postal service; productivity; interaction of law and economics; and service standards.

After decades of liberalization of the telecommunications industry around the world and technological convergence that allows for increasing competition, sector-specific regulation of telecommunications has been on the decline. As a result, the telecommunications industry stands in the middle of a debate that calls for either a total deregulation of access to broadband infrastructures or a separation of infrastructure from service delivery. This book proposes new approaches to dealing with the current and future issues of regulation of telecommunication markets on both a regional and a global scale.This volume represents a valuable compendium of ideas regarding global trends in the telecommunications industry that focus on market and regulatory issues and company strategies. With an international cast of contributors, Regulation and the Evolution of the Global Telecommunications Industry also provides insight into topics including: mobile Internet development, structural function and separation, global experiences with next generation networks, technology convergence and the role of regulation, and the regulatory impact on the balance between static and dynamic efficiencies. The empirical evidence and experiences presented here illustrate the diversity of thoughts and research that characterize this important area of academic and business research. Thus, it will be a critical reference for scholars and students of regulatory economics, policy and finance and researchers and administrators of the telecom industry.

This critical and forward-looking book features: An assessment of the impact of Internet of Things (IoT) on the telecom industry's revenue streams IoT-based business models in the telecom industry A PESTLE (political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal, and environmental) analysis of the industry in relation to IoT Key technological drivers. It also features a case study of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) Inc., which highlights IoT-based business models in the industry. The study reveals that telecom operators have started implementing IoT projects, however, true revenue streams are yet to materialize. Ten IoT-based business models have been identified at BCE Inc. The book points out that operators do leverage existing infrastructure in terms of broadband fiber and mobile connectivity in part and resort to partnerships and acquisitions to acquire much-needed knowledge, technology, and smart devices. Concerning the effect of IoT on the telecoms' revenue streams, it was revealed that new entrants, who are not necessarily in the telecom industry, have impacted the old players' revenue streams. OTT services like YouTube, WhatsApp, IPTV, Netflix, are the biggest culprits. Seven key technological drivers for IoT have been identified and include widespread wireless connectivity, the availability and affordability of microcontrollers, sensors and actuators, the decreasing cost of bandwidth, the recent implementation of IPv6, and the ongoing development of 5G network, as well as the use of cloud computing and analytics. Finally, the PESTLE analysis of the industry shows that the lack of a comprehensive political and regulatory framework still slows down IoT deployment. Interoperability, security, and privacy concerns are other constraints. Conversely, general economic conditions in most developed and developing economies are favorable to the advancement of IoT technology. Governments are willing to subsidize R&D and have partnered with the private sector to speed up the roll-out process.

The rapid pace of technological change is placing the world's telephone companies in a very difficult position. Fiber optics cables, wireless telephones, digital signal compression, and sophisticated new switching equipment are lowering the cost of providing service and opening the gates to new competition. At the same time, these new technologies are providing the telephone companies with a wide array of new market opportunities. Unfortunately, their status as regulated carriers makes it difficult to exploit these new opportunities and to fend off competitive assaults on their traditional telephone business. As long as they are regulated, they can be accused of using their monopoly services to cross-subsidize new competitive ventures. But partial deregulation and open entry would be a catastrophe for them unless they were allowed to revise their rate structure. There is a widespread misconception that the U.S. telecommunications industry has been " deregulated" and that Canadian authorities are following the U.S. lead. In fact, most services remain regulated, even though some markets, such as long-distance services, equipment sales and rentals, and local services, have been opened up. This book reviews the recent changes in the structure of U.S. and Canadian telecommunications industries and the changes in regulatory policy on both sides of the border. The authors analyze the effects of these changes in regulation on telephone rates in both the local and long-distance markets with particular emphasis on the impacts of regulatory reforms and competition on long-distance rates. They use their results to suggest how regulation should be structured to allow competition to replacemonopoly on the road to the information superhighway. The authors contend that for decades misguided regulation of the telephone sector in both Canada and the U.S. denied consumers the benefits of competition, distorted local and long-distance telephone rates, and blocked entry of new carriers and new technologies. They warn that the continued regulation of the telecommunications industry could be responsible for slowing the transition from " plain old telephone service" to a telecommunications marketplace that offers a wide variety of services. They conclude by outlining the choices open to policymakers and calling for liberalized competition all along the information superhighway.

This work offers professionals and students an understanding of the regulatory, economic, business, and public policy considerations associated with entry into global telecommunications markets from a commercial governmental and legal perspective. The primary focus of this work is on the regulatory environment, and how it impacts market access strategies and implementation of these strategies. The text addresses the issue of how to structure a venture so that it can operate within differing regulatory regimes. It provides an overview of market access for a variety of technologies including Internet, data services, voice, mobile services, and more. This information resource includes an overview of the tools available to help professionals ensure that a competitive market is created and fostered on a day to day basis.

This title was first published in 2001. New technologies and the liberalization of the broadcasting and telecommunications market, together with the digitalization and globalization of new services, have challenged irrevocably not only the traditional markets and instructional structures but also the legal systems of broadcasting and telecommunication sectors in the 21st century. This text takes into account changes in digital broadcasting and telecommunication by pointing out that convergence is the process through which broadcasting, telecommunication, press and information sectors are transformed into new sectors (info-com arteries, info-com products, info-com services and info-com content) in order to be fully compatible with the emerging new info-communication industry in the digital transformation and info-communication era.

The volume examines the role of telecommunications in the development process. While it seems obvious that telecommunications contribute to the efficient operation and productive growth of an economy, telecommunications may be a cause, a consequence, and a manifestation of development. There has been a growing interest among researches in examining the impact of telecommunications in both industrialized and developing societies. The purpose of this volume is to bring together the research in the field in order to make it more widely available, and to put research questions and findings within a development framework.

Wireless communications and sensing systems are nowadays ubiquitous; cell phones and automotive radars typifying two of the most familiar examples. This book introduces the field by addressing its fundamental principles, proceeding from its very beginnings, up to today's emerging technologies related to the fifth-generation wireless systems (5G), Multi-Input Multiple Output (MIMO) connectivity, and Aerospace/Electronic Warfare Radar. The tone is tutorial. Problems are included at the end of each chapter to facilitate the understanding and assimilation of the material to electrical engineering undergraduate/graduate students and beginning and non-specialist professionals. Free temporary access to Keysight's SystemVue system simulation is provided to further enhance reader learning through hands-on tutorial exercises. Chapter 1 introduces wireless communications and sensing and in particular how curiosity-driven scientific research led to the foundation of the field. Chapter 2 presents a brief introduction to the building blocks that make up wireless systems. Chapter 3 focuses on developing an understanding of the performance parameters that characterize a wireless system. Chapter 4 deals with circuit topologies for modulation and detection. In chapter 5 we cover the fundamental transmitter and receiver systems architectures that enable the transmission of information at precise frequencies and their reception from among a rather large multitude of other signals present in space. Chapter 6 introduces 5G, its motivation, and its development and adoption challenges for providing unprecedented levels of highest speed wireless connectivity. Chapter 7 takes on the topic of MIMO, its justification and its various architectures. Chapter 8 addresses the topic of aerospace/electronic warfare radar and finally Chapter 9 presents three Tutorials utilizing the SystemVue simulation tool.

Cutting through the confusion around the nature and implications of digitalization, this book explores the rise of the new digital networks, how they affect traditional infrastructure, and how they will eventually need to be regulated. The authors examine how digitalization affects infrastructures in telecommunications, transport, and energy, and how digital platforms establish themselves as a new network on top of and in addition to traditional ones. Complex concepts are introduced through short and colorful stories about the founders of the most popular platforms (Google, Facebook, Skype, Uber, etc.) and how they grew to positions of power, drawing parallels with century-old traditional network industries' monopoly power (AT&T, General Electric, etc.). The authors argue that these digital platforms strongly interfere with traditional infrastructures that are heavily regulated and provide essential services for society - meaning that digital platforms should be considered as a new and much more powerful type of infrastructure and will require regulation accordingly. A global audience of policy makers, public authorities, consultants, lawyers, students, and academics, as well as anyone with an interest in these digital platforms, will find this book enlightening and essential reading.

Cutting through the confusion around the nature and implications of digitalization, this book explores the rise of the new digital networks, how they affect traditional infrastructure, and how they will eventually need to be regulated. The authors examine how digitalization affects infrastructures in telecommunications, transport, and energy, and how digital platforms establish themselves as a new network on top of and in addition to traditional ones. Complex concepts are introduced through short and colorful stories about the founders of the most popular platforms (Google, Facebook, Skype, Uber, etc.) and how they grew to positions of power, drawing parallels with century-old traditional network industries' monopoly power (AT&T, General Electric, etc.). The authors argue that these digital platforms strongly interfere with traditional infrastructures that are heavily regulated and provide essential services for society - meaning that digital platforms should be considered as a new and much more powerful type of infrastructure and will require regulation accordingly. A global audience of policy makers, public authorities, consultants, lawyers, students, and academics, as well as anyone with an interest in these digital platforms, will find this book enlightening and essential reading.

Originally published in 1961. This book gives the layman a better understanding of the nature of nuclear power and explains some of the major problems which have to be overcome in making practical use of it. It is concerned mainly with the different kinds of nuclear reactors - their underlying principles are explained and illustrated by reference to particular plants or design studies. Interested readers will find that the discussion of principles is full enough, and the range covered wide enough, to provide a broad view of the subject and a useful introduction to some more technical literature.

Competitive Transformation of the Postal and Delivery Sector is an indispensable source of information and analysis on the current state of the postal and delivery sector. It offers current insights of leading researchers and practitioners into strategy and regulation as well as the economics of this sector. Issues addressed include national and international perspectives, financial viability, the universal service obligation, regulation, competition, entry, the role of scale and scope economies, the nature and role of cost and demand analysis in postal service, productivity, interaction of law and economics, human resources, transition and reform issues. The papers in the book were selected from the papers presented at the 11th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics, Toledo, Spain, June 4-7, 2003.

Sorting Letters, Sorting Lives offers an examination of a workplace that for many years has employed an extraordinarily diverse workforce: the United States Postal Service. In the post-civil rights era, the Postal Service took a leading role in managing a diverse workforce, seeking to acknowledge and honor the different groups and cultures represented among its workforce. The USPS has constantly been looking for ways to motivate its employees, to create a sense of fairness and belonging, and to minimize interpersonal and inter-group conflicts. Linda Benbow examines the organizational culture and levels of diversity found in an urban United States Postal Service mail processing facility. She shows how employee perceptions of social differences and their interactions with coworkers contribute to their identity and work life within the organization. Painting detailed portraits of race, social class, and gender in a mail processing facility, Benbow looks at ways employees of diverse backgrounds relate to one another, identifying the issues and occasions that provoke conflict, the ways that participants view one another, and the forces and strategies that mitigate and conciliate conflicts. This richly detailed account of a historically diverse urban post office provides a fascinating look at the dynamics of race and gender in the workplace.

Call centers have come, in the last three decades, to define the interaction between corporations, governments, and other institutions and their respective customers, citizens, and members. The offshoring and outsourcing of call center employment, part of the larger information technology and information-technology-enabled services sectors, continues to be a growing practice amongst governments and corporations in their attempts at controlling costs and providing new services. While incredible advances in technology have permitted the use of distant and "offshore" labor forces, the grander reshaping of an international political economy of communications has allowed for the acceleration of these processes. New and established labor unions have responded to these changes in the global regimes of work by seeking to organize call center workers. These efforts have been assisted by a range of forces, not least of which is the condition of work itself, but also attempts by global union federations to build a bridge between international unionism and local organizing campaigns in the Global South and Global North. Through an examination of trade union interventions in the call center industries located in Canada and India, this book contributes to research on post-industrial employment by using political economy as a juncture between development studies, the sociology of work, and labor studies.

This books systematically assesses the role of government in the computerization of U.S. and world society. Part One traces the evolution of postwar policy for domestic telematics--in parallel with growing corporate demand for merged computer-communication services under private mastery. Part Two extends the arguments to the international sphere, as the structure of corporate enterprise is now essentially transnational. Part Three returns to Government's other critical role in the computerization process, as a market for advanced telematics equipment and services.

"The U.S. telecommunications industry has undergone dramatic changes in recent years that have touched almost every American home and business. The average American can dial almost anywhere in the world directly, store and forward a message, or transmit a fax in less than a minute; often for less than the real cost of a 500-mile telephone call tweny-five years ago. The combination of telecommunications breakthroughs, competition among new and old carriers, and the AT&T breakup has transformed the telephone industry and provided customers with a new array of equipment and services. Robert W. Crandall examines the effects of the AT&T breakup and weighs the costs and benefits to the residential and business consumer. On balance, he finds that the efficiency gains from opening up the telephone industry have more than offset the possible efficiency losses, which may be caused by the sacrifice of economies of scale and scope or the absence of fully compatible equipment and services. The replacement of regulation with competition has led to greater productivity in the telephone industry, a more efficient rate structure, and lower equipment prices. Crandall traces the telecommunications evolution from its early beginnings as pairs of copper wires up through the historic 1982 decision to divest. He investigates the impact of technological changes, competition, and the advent of divestiture on the quality of service, local and interexchange service rates, productive efficiency, and income distribution. He also focuses on problems that linger after the breakup in the increasingly competitive but highly regulated sector. "

Originally published in 1992 this book charts the global restructuring of telecommunications industries away from the monopoly structures of the past towards increased competition, deregulation and privatization. The book's authors are international policy-makers and scholars, who examine the regulatory environment within a theoretical and historical context. The book looks at the roots of regulatory and legislative changes by discussing individually the countries at the forefront of the revolution: the UK, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. It examines the impact of new technology for consequences of change in trade and government policies.

The traditionally separate Fixed, Mobile, and Internet sectors have been evolving recently toward a single sector, offering numerous implications for those involved in technology and business. It is therefore essential for telecommunication professionals to get a keen grasp of where the industry is heading. Providing a solid foundation in the industry, Introduction to Mobile Communications: Technology, Services, Markets explores the core requirements of modern mobile telecommunications-from markets to technology. It explains how wireless systems work, how mobility is supported, the underlying infrastructure, and what interactions are needed among the different functional components. The book also examines how mobile communications are evolving in order to meet the changing needs of users. The information provided in the book comes primarily from the four core modules of the Certificate in Mobile Communications Distance Learning program run by the Informa Telecoms Academy in London. Designed by a highly experienced training development team, the program examines the complex and fascinating world of mobile communications. Designed to give a broad picture of mobile communications, the book provides an excellent grounding for those involved in both business and engineering-leaving them much better equipped to fulfill roles within their current or prospective companies