(1) Open devices are not the same as open services: Your post seems confused about what Google is proposing in terms of open access:
- In Google's terminology, "open devices" means that a network operator could not block users from attaching devices that are compliant with network standards. Contrast this with current mobile operator practice of selectively supporting some technically compliant handsets while not supporting others.
- In Google's terminology, "open services" means that re-sellers would be able to purchase services from the spectrum licensee(s) on wholesale terms.
(2) Wholesale markets in network services: You seem to be sceptical that wholesale access could work at all. But it already works in some other countries, so why couldn't it work in the US?
- Mobile: In the UK, spectrum licensees voluntarily opened their networks to virtual operators (MVNOs) who now have over 6% customer market share. MVNO's have also been growing in other EU countries, in some cases following regulatory intervention. The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has published some interesting research on the subject (see p. 76-88).
- Fixed-line & broadband: In the UK, there's a mechanism to provide re-sellers access to the infrastructure of BT (the company which owns all of the country's "last mile" network). The relevant division of BT is called Openreach and the regulatory framework is available at the Ofcom site.
Slashdot Mirror
Notasheep: A couple of points...
(1) Open devices are not the same as open services: Your post seems confused about what Google is proposing in terms of open access:
- In Google's terminology, "open devices" means that a network operator could not block users from attaching devices that are compliant with network standards. Contrast this with current mobile operator practice of selectively supporting some technically compliant handsets while not supporting others.
- In Google's terminology, "open services" means that re-sellers would be able to purchase services from the spectrum licensee(s) on wholesale terms.
(2) Wholesale markets in network services: You seem to be sceptical that wholesale access could work at all. But it already works in some other countries, so why couldn't it work in the US?
- Mobile: In the UK, spectrum licensees voluntarily opened their networks to virtual operators (MVNOs) who now have over 6% customer market share. MVNO's have also been growing in other EU countries, in some cases following regulatory intervention. The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has published some interesting research on the subject (see p. 76-88).
- Fixed-line & broadband: In the UK, there's a mechanism to provide re-sellers access to the infrastructure of BT (the company which owns all of the country's "last mile" network). The relevant division of BT is called Openreach and the regulatory framework is available at the Ofcom site.