Telecommunications

Field Definition

Basic Definition

"The word 'telecommunications,' a twentieth century amalgam of Greek and Latin roots, literally means the art of conveying information 'from a distance.' . . . Today, although precise definitions differ, 'telecommunications' is broadly defined as the transmission of information by means of electromagnetic signals: over copper wires, coaxial cable, fiber-optic strands, or the airwaves." (Neuchterlein & Weiser 2007, at 1-2)

Taxonomy of Telecommunications Industries

Focus Market Segments

• Wireline
• Cable
• Commercial Wireless (Cell Phone)
• Unlicensed Wireless (esp. 802.11)
• Internet-Based Communications Platforms

Deprioritized Market Segments

• Satellite MVPD
• Broadcast TV
• Broadcast Radio
• Satellite Radio

Excluded From Field Definition

• Pure Content, including:
  • Television, or Radio Programmers (Other than Broadcast Networks, which are in a vertically integrated distribution-and-content business)
  • Online Content Platforms (vs. Communications Platforms) (e.g. Hulu, iTunes, Netflix). We also place user-generated content platforms like YouTube and Wikipedia in this category, although arguably they have a communications dimension.

Overview of the Field

Analysis of the field based on Field Research Methodology, with some modifications.

1. Overall Picture of the Telecommunications Field
2. Value Chain in Telecommunications WIth Focus on Flow of Knowledge Goods
3. Overview of Economics of Intellectual Property in Telecommunications (including a comparison of IP-based and non-IP-based sources of competitive advantage)
4. Biggest For-Profit Companies in Telecommunications
5. Biggest Non-Profit Companies in Telecommunications
6. Most Important Universities in Telecommunications
7. Most Important Associations in Telecommunications
8. Commons Based Cases in Telecommunications

Case Studies

Possible Ways to Organize Case Studies

Network Components

• Fiber
• Legacy Last Mile/Last 100 Feet (DOCSIS/DSL/MoCa?)
• Wireless Last Mile/Last 100 Feet (3G/4G/802.11)
• Services (Operator Provided Content & Managed Services / Internet "Over-the-Top" Services)

Layers

• Physical Layer
• Network Logical Layer
  • Data Link Layers
  • IP Layer
• Service/Application/Content Layer

Candidates for Case Studies

• SONET/ Optical standard? - Fiber ; Logical Layer
• Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) - Fiber ; Physical Layer
• Discrete Multitone (part of the the DSL Standard) - Legacy Last Mile ; Logical Layer
• Some discrete component of DOCSIS standard (perhaps security protocols?) - Legacy Last Mile ; Logical Layer
• CDMA/Qualcomm - Wireless Last Mile ; Logical Layer
• Some part of 802.11 standard - Wireless Last 100 Feet ; Logical Layer
• Internet Protocol - All Network Components ; Logical Layer
• Google Voice, New Alcatel-Lucent Voice Product - Service & Application Layer
• Some open source Internet-based telecom Project? - Service & Application Layer

Other Resources

Interviews

Possible candidates for interviews:

Bibliography

Jonathan E. Neuchterlein and Philip J. Weiser, Digital Crossroads: American Telecommunicaions Policy in the Internet Age, 2007.

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