World Telecommunications Economics

by Jeffery J. Wheatley

Overview

This book bridges the worlds of the economist, the engineer, the regulator and the manager. It outlines the technology of the subject in sufficient detail to provide an understanding of the industry's economics, and presents a comprehensive picture of the markets into which its products and services are sold.

Service supply monopolies are dissolving under the combined pressures of technological change, managerial inventiveness and regulation, leading the industry into uncharted waters. Competition is appearing in the local loop. International telecommunications services have been among the fastest to change, both technologically and in market structure. These developments, along with resale operations and their associated cost structures are analysed, as are the comparative advantages of satellite and cable systems.

There are good economic reasons for optimism about what these changes will bring, not least in more efficient pricing and resource allocation, but important matters of public welfare are at stake, and these too are discussed.

Examples and statistics are drawn across the full range of the world's nations, offering insights which may be missed when concentrating on the rich countries alone. While the book is of most value to industry professionals, the clarity of its analysis makes it useful to anyone with a business or academic interest in telecommunications

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780852969366
Publisher:	The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Publication date:	06/30/1999
Series:	Telecommunications
Pages:	500
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jeffery Wheatley graduated in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1954, and has spent his working life in the postal and telecommunications industries. He headed British Telecom's team of economists until 1989, when he became an independent international consultant. Much of his work has been concerned with developing countries and with privatisation, competition and international services.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Telecommunications technology
• Chapter 3: The world telecommunications economy
• Chapter 4: The structure of demand
• Chapter 5: The economics of supply
• Chapter 6: Market structure and dynamics
• Chapter 7: Cost structures in telecommunications operations
• Chapter 8: Welfare economics for telecommunications
• Chapter 9: Telecommunications service prices
• Chapter 10: Industrial structure and ownership
• Chapter 11: Forward planning
• Chapter 12: Telecommunications policy and regulation
• Chapter 13: Practical problems with regulation
• Chapter 14: Universal service
• Chapter 15: Performance measures
• Chapter 16: Econometric modelling
• Chapter 17: International telecommunications
• Chapter 18: Strategic issues for suppliers and operators
• Chapter 19: Diversification into less developed countries

Editorial Reviews

'a well-written and informative book that covers a broad range of interesting topics in the area of telecommunications economics. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a interest not only in telecommunications economics but also in telecommunications in general.'

The Business Economist

'the book provides an excellent introductory course in telecommunication economics and policy. It can also be recommended for the regulator, or public policy advocate trying to rapidly grasp the intricacies of economics and regulation and apply them to the telecommunication sector.'

Telecommunications Policy