Contenu du sommaire : Télécommunications : la nouvelle donne.

Policy Issues Questions to Paul Quilès and Gérard Longuet Paul Quilès, the Minister for Post and Telecommunications and Gerard Longuet, former minister, answer ten questions on the development of the telecommunications sector and its impact on the State machinery and interstate relations, European directives, the role and duties of a public service in the face of competition, deregulation, etc. In spite of their opposing political affiliations, their views converge over the need for the regulatory and management functions to be separated and for France-Telecom to adapt. But they diverge over the identity and shape of the competent regulatory authority, the issue of its szparation from the authority responsible for audiovisual services, the status of the personnel, and the conditions under which the System should be opened to competition.

Policy Issues Questions to Paul Quilès and Gérard Longuet Paul Quilès, the Minister for Post and Telecommunications and Gerard Longuet, former minister, answer ten questions on the development of the telecommunications sector and its impact on the State machinery and interstate relations, European directives, the role and duties of a public service in the face of competition, deregulation, etc. In spite of their opposing political affiliations, their views converge over the need for the regulatory and management functions to be separated and for France-Telecom to adapt. But they diverge over the identity and shape of the competent regulatory authority, the issue of its szparation from the authority responsible for audiovisual services, the status of the personnel, and the conditions under which the System should be opened to competition.

History of Telecommunications Management Catherine Bertho-Lavenir The history of telecommunications management may be broken down into four broad stages : the nationalization of telephone networks in 1889 ; the introduction of a separate budget for the PTT in 1922-1923 ; the setting up of close links between management, research and industry between 1944 and 1964, and finally, since the seventies, the drive to model telecommunications management on company management. This evolution illustrates that in spite of partial and often poorly implemented reforms, French telecommunications management has been able to show — under pressure of technological change and crises — a marked capacity for adaptation and innovation.

Reform of the Public Telecommunications Service Jacques Chevallier The transition from a monopoly situation to a partially free market calls for a redefinition of the public telecommunications service. Although its specifie role as an essential counterweight to the predominance of market forces is clearly felt to be of great importance, it is hardly a justification for the public service to remain in a world of its own : the interdependence of the two branches of the telecommunications sector is such that the public service cannot claim a watertight compartment for itself. The deregulation of telecommunications could therefore corne as an opportunity for striking a new balance between the public and private sectors whereby the market sharing arrangements would include a mechanism for mutual interaction.

Legal Glossary Didier Truchet A brief legal definition is provided for such terms as : authorization (and notification) ; disputes over telephone charges ; France-Telecom ; frequency ; specialized links ; monopoly (and competition) ; normalisation (and technical Controls) ; privatization ; regulations, value-added network (telematics network open to third parties) ; cable network ; digital integrated service network ; liability ; satellite ; public service ; private electric radio station ; telecommunication (and audiovisual communication) ; telematics ; user.

Satellites Martine Georges The distinction between the operational and regulatory functions in the satellite telecommunications sector is far more clearcut at the international level. A detailed analysis nevertheless reveals that in reality the regulations sometimes favour the notion of content, as in the case of broadcasting satellites, and at others that of support, as in the case of telecommunication satellites. The regulations governing the latter are insufficiently adapted to the growing diversity of services offered by satellite at a time when the effectiveness of the operational framework for satellite Systems as a whole is being called into question.

Telematics Eric Baptiste French telematics has proved to be a success. The range of services on offer and the traffic between subscribers is growing constantly and sharply. This success is based on two leading decisions : the “kiosk” System and initial market stimulation by the free provision of rustic terminais. Institutions involved specifically in telematics have designed a legal framework of their own which is built on an exclusively contractual basis. This separate set of rules exists side by side with others relating to telecommunications, the press and audiovisual communication. The norms applicable to telematics will probably need to be clarified in the future.

France Télécom — National Télécommunications Operator Marcel Roulet The France Télécom group, the national public telecommunications operator, must now switch from a monoproduct — monopoly — national System to a multiservice — competitive — international one. It must continue to perform its functions as a public service while formulating an offense strategy on the international front for the provision of new services. In preparation for the single market in 1993, France Télécom should develop an appropriate management structure similar to that of its European counterparts which combines greater operational flexibility with a strong supervisory and regulatory role.

The Experience of Other Countries — Lessons for the Future ? Bruno Lasserre The eighties have seen important changes throughout the world in the field of telecommunications with regard to the regulation and operation of services. The monopolies that dominated the scene in the main industrialized countries have on the whole made way for a freer System which is better suited to cope with the increasingly tough competition. There is a fair amount of agreement on a number of issues : separation of the regulatory and operational functions ; intercommunicability of networks ; liberalization of the supply of terminais and of value added services. Nevertheless, a careful review of the situation reveals some striking differences : from the American model, where the main operator is a huge private company, to the German scheme under which operations are managed by a public body removed from State control, each country follows its own path.

Towards New European Législation on Télécommunications Bernard Amory A vast programme aimed at introducing a new set of telecommunications regulation in the European Community is under way. The new regulatory framework has been designed by the European Commission in collaboration with interested parties (telecommunications authorities, the computer and telecommunications equipment industry, users and trade unions). The new regulations cover infrastructure, which would remain a monopoly under certain conditions, the terminal market, which will be open to competition (but with marketing being subject to approval), and the services to be liberalized (voice telephony and, for the time being, data transmission).

Telecommunications and Socio-economic Development : an Impossible Mission ? Victor-Yves Ghebali In the exercise of its functions relating to the promotion of telecommunications in the Third World, the International Telecommunications Union adopts a two-pronged approach which consists, at the theoretical level, in defining the relationship between telecommunications and development and, at the operational level, in providing technical cooperation services. While the connection between telecommunications and development still remains to be irrefutably demonstrated, the financing of telecommunications investments (in hard currency) is proving to be an insurmountable obstacle for the developing countries.