The largest European mobile operators have in recent years divested or separated their tower infrastructure, with a view to value creation, unlocking capital and/or achieving efficiencies. Some larger broadband providers including incumbents have also created fibre netco JVs to access finance and/or address gaps in fibre coverage.
This study by WIK-Consult for BEREC provides an overview of recent developments regarding infrastructure companies in Europe and key international markets and explores
- The motivation for the creation of infrastructure companies;
- Assets and business models under their control, and future plans and prospects;
- Challenges and opportunities arising for infrastructure companies and telecom operators;
- Implications of these developments for competition and investment in fixed and mobile very high capacity networks;
- The approaches that have been taken to support infrastructure deployment and preserve competition under competition law, and ex ante telecom regulation including the EU Electronic Communications Code (EECC) and Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD); and
- Possible implications for the application of SMP and symmetric regulation by NRAs
The study analyzes market developments regarding telecommunications infrastructure in recent years as well as the implications for regulation and competition policy based on these trends.
