Why not look at the need the consumer has?

The Swedish regulator PTS has issued a statement on requirements the incumbent Telia has regarding fiber and copper products. Specifically the statement forces Telia to sell access to their fiber, including support systems and facilities. There is an article in Computer Sweden (in Swedish) about it.

This is of course a good thing, but, this once again misses the whole point of competition on the broadband market, and misses the needs the end users has. So much effort in a statement that might destroy the broadband market more than it helps. I am once again very disappointed.

In the real world of course these requirements are good, but they have to be requirements on all actors. Not only one. As long as the requirements are only on some, then the market will continue to be sort of weird.

But the largest mistake is to not look at the needs the end user has. The end user must be able to for example change VoIP provider without being forced to change providers of other services like TV or email. Be able to access services also when travelling, for example to work (i.e. access when using different providers of Internet access). This implies the Internet Access must be open. And services can not be tied to the Internet Access.

Today, with this view of competition that PTS and other regulators in Europe has, the end user can choose between broadband providers, but each such provider bring in a fixed package of services. If you want to change package, ok, but you have to change the whole package. Just look at the situation in Hammarby Sjöstad. Definitely not good for the end user.

But regarding fiber, of course it is good if multiple providers of Internet Access (note that I am using the terms Internet Access and Broadband provider pretty carefully in this text) can use the same passive infrastructure. But the requirements on providing dark fiber as a product must be a requirement on everyone. Or rather, on everyone that want to participate in the broadband market, and the ones that are significant players. But not on country wide basis, but probably on a city by city basis. This would include not only Telia, but also all local providers that are at least as dominant as Telia, but only in their city.

And last, one must keep regional politics and problems separated from IT policy. This can not be stated too often.