2.9.4 Regulatory implications from convergence

Regulation area

Implications

Pricing

• Many different products offering similar facilities become available. These products may be using different pricing schemes and be subject to different types of regulation.

Interconnection

• A need for Interconnection between new services such as VoIP and instant messaging.

Licensing

• It becomes more difficult to control provision of a particular service through licensing.
• Service specific licenses will become a barrier towards development of new services.
• Coordination between regulation of content services and broadcasting licensing.

Universal Service

• A definition of USO which only includes voice becomes less relevant as voice is delivered in combination with a host of other services.

Spectrum Management

• Restrictions on use become more complex and hamper development of new applications

Numbering

• Needs for coherence between different numbering plans facilitating communication across platforms.