The new WTO telecom agreement: Opportunities and challenges
Telecommunications; Dedham; Sep 1997; Peter Sisson;

Edition:  Americas edition
Volume:  31
Issue:  9
Start Page:  24-33
ISSN:  02784831
Subject Terms:  Telecommunications policy
International
Agreements
Trends
Access control
Classification Codes:  8330: Broadcasting & communications industry
9180: International
Geographic Names:  US
Europe
Asia
Companies:  World Trade Organization
Abstract:
The telecommunication agreement reached by the World Trade Organization (WTO) will accelerate the global trend toward increased market access, competition, and deregulation. Although there are many barriers to implementing the agreement and questions about the effectiveness of the enforcement mechanism, the agreement will empower reformers with an internationally sanctioned framework for opening markets, increasing foreign investment, and promoting a level playing field for new competitors. The pace of reform will quicken, helping to ensure that in 10 years, the global telecommunications market will present a very different picture from that of today. Despite the WTO agreement, some governments - reluctant to part with the hard currency generated by settlements - may erect barriers to delay the process. There might even be allegations of dumping when multinational operators enter markets with cheap long-distance service. Accounting rate reform still has difficult obstacles to overcome.