2.4.2 Interconnection products/service offerings

Convergence and the increasing importance of packet switched services will affect the kind of interconnection products and service offerings which are important for competition. These products include network products provided by telecom copper-based networks, telecom optical networks, telecom wireless networks, broadcasting cable networks, broadcasting terrestrial networks etc. This section provides an overview of the major interconnection products used for ensuring connectivity between networks and between operators and end users. The major interconnection products are listed below. The list is far from exhaustive and includes regulated as well as unregulated products.

List of major interconnection products

Switched interconnection products	Fixed network products Whole sale of end user products (subscription, traffic) Origination (local, single transit, double transit)Termination (local, single transit, double transit) Transit Exchange of international traffic Mobile network products Whole sale of end user products (subscription, traffic)Origination Termination Roaming (national, international)
Unbundled network components	Network access lines Raw copper Shared access Bit stream access Fiber Coax Mobile Transit lines (national, international) Fiber (dark fiber, lit fiber with or without regeneration, direct access (lambda- connection) Coax Radio links Satellite Sub-marine cables Other infrastructures Switching functions Local switching Tandem switching Network management, directory service functions etc. Subscriber listings Operator services Directory assistance Others
Interconnection of packet switched networks	Interconnection of IP networks Bilateral peering Public peering Transit (hierarchical bilateral) Interconnection of other packet switched networks ATM SDH Ethernet (Constant, variable or available bit rate)
Co-location and sharing of common facilities	Installation of telecom facilities At local exchanges At concentration point Sharing of ducts Sharing of mast
Interconnection of applications	Web browsing Instant messaging services VoIP Other applications

It follows that the list of interconnection offerings is strongly affected by technological developments. The list of the traditional interconnection products related to exchange of voice communication is extended by a number of new interconnection products. These products are related to:

Separation of infrastructure and services: This creates a demand for interconnection of either services or facilities.
Development of new types of infrastructures: This creates a demand for interconnection products related to these infrastructures.
Development of new services and applications: This creates a demand for interconnection between them.

Interconnection products include interconnection of both services and facilities. In addition, interconnection of various applications is included in the list. It can be argued that the term 'interconnection' is misleading with regard to applications, as different applications can be communicated effectively if the underlying services are interconnected and if they are using interoperable standards. On the other hand, it is often difficult to distinguish between applications and services, which is clearly indicated by the difficulties related to the classification of VoIP as either a network service or just another information service made possible by the application of IP. The development of instant messages has also raised concern with regard to interconnection.

In this context we have chosen to distinguish between interconnection of circuit switched services (primarily fixed and mobile telephone services) and interconnection of packet switched services (primarily Internet interconnection). Finally, a separate category includes co-location and sharing of common facilities such as ducts, masts etc.