Speeding up the internet: Regulation and investment in the European fiber optic infrastructure

Wolfgang Briglauer, Carlo Cambini and Michal Grajek

International Journal of Industrial Organization, 2018, vol. 61, issue C, 613-652

Abstract: In this paper, we study how the coexistence of access regulations for legacy (copper) and fiber networks shapes the incentives to invest in fiber-based network infrastructures. To this end, we first develop a theoretical model that extends the existing literature by, among other things, considering alternative firms with proprietary legacy network (e.g., cable operators) and the presence of asymmetric mandated access to networks. In the empirical part, we test the theoretical predictions using a novel panel data from 27 EU member states pertaining to the last decade. Our main finding is that, in line with the theoretical results, stricter access regulations (i.e., a decrease in access price to legacy network and the adoption of fiber regulation) decrease the incumbent operators’ fiber investments. On the other hand, cable operators are not affected by access regulation. Our paper thus provides policy insights for the on-going revision of the EU regulation framework for the electronic communications industry.

Keywords: Access regulation; Infrastructure investment; Next generation networks; Broadband; Cable operators and EU regulatory framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L51 L96 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (36)

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Working Paper: Speeding up the internet: regulation and investment in European fiber optic infrastructure (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:indorg:v:61:y:2018:i:c:p:613-652

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2018.01.006

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