WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH WIK-Consult GmbH
Telecommunications markets & infrastructure© Photo Credit: Roby - stock.adobe.com

Telecommunications markets & infrastructure

Network technology know-how and competence in competition and regulatory economics

Fields of work / Telecommunications markets & infrastructure

Fixed network

Fixed network infrastructures and technologies form the backbone of telecommunications. They bring together the multitude of existing access networks and technologies on a transport and service platform that is today largely integrated. In addition to the various access technologies (xDSL, coaxial cable, x.PON or Ethernet-based fibre-optic access networks, fixed-mobile access or directional radio links), technologies such as Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) represent current challenges. We support decision-makers in understand the implications of technological and market developments and help to generate relevant insights for the decisions to be made by our clients. For this purpose, we use, among other things, the GIS-based network planning and cost models we have developed.

 

Mobile communications

Hardly any technology has changed the living and working environments as quickly and as systematically as mobile communications. WIK has dealt with economic, technical and regulatory questions concerning mobile networks and services in many studies in Germany and Europe-wide. We have analysed, for example, why mobile radio coverage is better in Switzerland or South Korea than in Germany, how 5G can improve intralogistics or Industry 4.0 in campus networks, or what contribution public mobile radio can make to support autonomous connected driving or precision farming.

 

Universal service

Ensuring the universal provision of telecommunications services has taken on new significance with the consideration of the quality of service consumers receive with their internet access service. National regulatory authorities define criteria for social participation, normal market use and technical parameters.

Since the early days of market regulation, we have conducted research on the current issues of universal service and developed concepts, incentive analyses, net cost provisions and country comparisons. Our experts have supported both national regulatory authorities in regulatory decisions and SMP operators with our know-how in the areas of regulation & competition, network and service technology as well as cost determination.

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Fibre optic expansion

Fibre optic expansion

Fibre optic infrastructures are the lifelines of the digital world and thus one of the critical infrastructures for the 21st century. They have an almost unlimited capacity and are considered very future-proof. The expansion of nationwide fibre-optic networks is a significant task, some of which requires subsidies. We regularly deal with the investment, market and competition policy dimensions of the various fibre optic technologies and are familiar with the characteristics of the civil engineering market, the various fibre laying techniques and the institutional framework. We have developed models that forecast the profitability of such an expansion or determine the need for subsidies.

eSIM

For decades, SIM cards, which serve to identify users, have been an essential characteristic of the mobile phone market. In future, these will be increasingly replaced by permanently installed (embedded) SIM chips. There are opportunities and risks associated with this. We were among the first companies to deal with the implications of the introduction of the eSIM on markets, competition and consumers.