The deregulation of telecommunications in the EEC

摘要

In this paper we make a detour of the telecommunications landscape of western Europe with a view to identify, measure and assess the significance and influence of deregulation in the unfolding of a new Europe. We will begin by taking a bird's-eye view of the existing telecommunications industry in Europe followed by a closer look at the privatization of British Telecom in the UK which, many would agree, has spearheaded the whole deregulation process in Europe. The latter part of this article will concentrate on the initiatives taken by the European Commission in developing a cohesive and integrated telecommunications industry in the emerging United States of Europe. The implications of these initiatives in the realization of the internal open market of 1992 are also considered.