Uwe Szafran
Der Markt für Satellitendienste
Nr. 107 / April 1993
Summary
In the short period after the opening of the licencing procedure in satellite communications in the Federal Republic of Germany a dynamic development has been taking place in this small segment of the telecommunications market, among others due to the impulses from East Germany. Up to the beginning of 1993, 30 domestic and foreign firms have received a satellite communications licence from the Federal Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
This paper describes the regulatory framework in the Federal Republic of Germany, the licencing practice, the market structure and the different market segments. Furthermore, the supply of space segment capacity for the German market and the special role of DBP Telekom on this market are considered. Finally, the study summarizes the problems of market development in satellite communications.
Though DBP Telekom entered the market for satellite services prior to private service providers and therefore gained several advantages in competition, private competitors were able to close the gap in a short time. The activity is concentrated on a few licensees.
A free development of the market forces in satellite communications is still hindered by a number of restrictions - a fragmentation of the market in consequence of the different national degree of liberalization is opposed to Europe-wide satellite services. At the moment liberalization in satellite communications mainly relates to the earth segment market. Competition among signatories, introduced in the Federal Republic of Germany on 1 May 1992, is a first step to undermine the dominating position of DBP Telekom on the space segment market in Germany. Furthermore the fact, that DBP Telekom is supplier on the space segment market and at the same time the major competitor on the market for satellite services, leads to conflicts.
Only German language version available.