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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Unbundling the incumbent: Evidence from UK broadband

Author(s): Mattia Nardotto, Tommaso Valletti and Frank Verboven

Publication Date: October 2012

Keyword(s): broadband, competition, entry, local loop unbundling, regulation and telecommunications

Programme Area(s): Industrial Organization

Abstract: We consider the impact of a regulatory process forcing an incumbent telecom operator to make its local broadband network available to other companies (local loop unbundling, or LLU). Entrants are then able to upgrade their individual lines and offer Internet services directly to customers. Employing a very detailed dataset covering the whole of the UK, we find that over the course of time, many entrants have begun to take advantage of LLU. However, unbundling has little or no effect on broadband penetration, compared to those areas where the loops are not unbundled. LLU entry instead has a strongly positive impact on the quality of the service provided. We also assess the impact of competition from an alternative form of technology (cable) which is not subject to regulation, and what we discover is that inter-platform competition has a positive impact on both penetration and quality.

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Bibliographic Reference

Nardotto, M, Valletti, T and Verboven, F. 2012. 'Unbundling the incumbent: Evidence from UK broadband'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=9194