Telecoms Liberalization Guide – Second Edition
This second edition draws upon updated case studies and members’ expertise in telecoms liberalization throughout the world, to highlight key lessons from past liberalization efforts. We hope that sharing best practices in this way will help countries avoid the pitfalls involved in telecoms liberalization and take advantage of others’ experiences.
Telecommunications liberalization means introducing competition into the telecoms sector by allowing commercial enterprises to set up new telecoms businesses as long as they comply with certain government-defined policies, rules and regulations.
ICC, with its members from around the world; from the developing to the most developed countries, is uniquely placed to provide balanced and insightful input to governments, and other interested parties, as they consider or continue the process of liberalizing their communications infrastructure. ICC members include both telecommunication providers, and users from a broad range of sectors and of all sizes.
Investment can help to create the infrastructures that are essential for overall economic growth, and putting in place the necessary conditions and incentives is what will create these opportunities. We are pleased to present the second edition of Telecoms Liberalization; an international business guide for policymakers that builds on the first edition and provides helpful guidance to governments and other interested parties as they seek to unleash the potential of ICTs in their own countries. Its key message is that telecoms liberalization, done properly, will boost essential communications infrastructure and benefit the entire economy.
We recognize that the process towards an open and competitive telecoms market can be an arduous one. It requires vision and commitment at the highest levels of government, and the courage to forego short-term gains for long-term benefits to society as a whole. We hope this second edition of Telecoms Liberalization; an international business guide for policymakers will help governments worldwide to do what is needed to provide the infrastructure for improved communications, e-commerce and all the opportunities that go with them.
