Search results

This paper aims to question the disappearance of sector‐specific regulation in European electronic communications markets.

To show that sector‐specific regulation will remain, five arguments are developed based on different disciplines: law, economics, political science and sociology.

It is found that sector‐specific regulation has already been in place for 15 years and there is no concrete indication that it will end soon. Competition law has intrinsic limitations, which, arguably, do not make it possible for authorities to resort only to that body of the law to ensure a smooth functioning of the electronic communications markets. The balance of power in the EU leads to sector‐specific regulation being maintained in the years ahead as the ideal way for European institutions to intervene in electronic communications markets. The electronic communications market requires regulation going beyond competition law in order to ensure the realization of non‐economic purposes. The implementation of sector‐specific regulation might contribute to concentrating the electronic communications markets.

Contrary to the claims of the European institutions that sector‐specific regulation in the electronic communication markets will lose its relevance, this paper argues that it is likely to remain for the foreseeable future.

The paper shows that deregulating a sector is not an easy task and that ex ante regulation is a key legal instrument for the proper functioning of a market.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

One often thinks of competition as a mechanism whereby undertakings are forced to answer more efficiently the needs of clients. One may wonder whether that system could be used to organize the institutional environment. Competition already exists among states or regions, where it affects their capacity to attract investment or skilled workers. Could we go further and organise institutional competition among authorities within the same territory? Electronic communications provide a good case study, with the same competencies being attributed to regulators, competition authorities and judicial power.

This article seeks to analyze the initiative of the European Commission that studied the feasibility of measures that would lead significant market players to license their interoperability information under the Digital Agenda.

The significance of the abuse of dominance regime and the electronic communications framework in ensuring access to interoperability information in the ICT sector is studied by way of analyzing legislation and case law. Against the background of these two existing regulatory regimes, the proposals that the Commission made in its recently published Staff Working Document are evaluated.

The Microsoft case illustrates that the abuse of dominance regime under European competition law is not very effective to remedy interoperability issues in a structural way. An ex ante regime will enable the ICT industry to reap the full benefits of interoperability on a broader scale. Since the Commission's initiative seems to target interoperability among software products, the electronic communications regime is not applicable. A new regulatory regime should therefore be established. As the desirability of a mandatory regime can be questioned, the adoption of soft law measures seems to be the preferred option.

By putting the initiative of the Commission to examine measures that promote access to interoperability information under the Digital Agenda into its broader regulatory context, the article contributes to the discussion on the possible ways to ensure interoperability in the ICT sector.

Briefly outlines the background to the 1999 Review. Attempts to explore some of the regulatory options for the future legal framework at EU level. Examines the regulatory goals, instruments and scope of applicability of the future sector. Pinpoints some of the specific regulatory issues to be addressed with regard to mobile communications.

This study aims to, in the light of the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) objective to provide “broadband for all”, investigate how the DAE can make use of universal service as a regulatory instrument created specifically to ensure a minimum of available and affordable electronic communications services within a competitive market.

The paper uses systematic and comparative legal analyses of the European Union (EU)’s universal service rules and contrasts them with Information Society policy measures.

There are strong commonalities between the DAE and universal service on the level of objectives. However, due to heavy reliance on the measures stimulating supply-side, there are discrepancies in the mechanisms of their achievement. At the same time, an effective use of universal service instrument by the DAE is not reasonable. In its current form, universal service does not correspond to the substantive requirements of the Information Society policy and needs to be reformed. The paper calls for additional empirical and theoretical research on the role and form of universal service in the Information Society and outlines main issues for further research.

The paper uses the perspective of the EU Information Society policy to undertake a legal analysis of the current universal service regulation. Against this backdrop, it points out obsolescence of individual elements of the scope and logical deficiencies of the review mechanism.

Do you use Electronic mail (E‐mail)? Do you know if anyone other than the intended recipient is reading the mail you send? And, what would you do if it fell into the wrong hands? Employees around the world use E‐mail more than a million times a day (Elmer‐Dewitt, 1993). E‐mail is used for a multitude of purposes including telling jokes, discussing confidential matters, or even spreading gossip that could be potentially offensive if overheard by the wrong person. E‐mail is more convenient for most to use rather than having to pick up the phone or wander down a hall to tell someone something. A common misconception many have concerning the use of E‐mail is that it is as private as mail or a phone call (Elmer‐Dewitt, 1993).

This study aims to investigate the cyber security awareness and policies within corporate organisations in Ghana.

Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches underpinned by questionnaire and document analysis, data were collected from 100 participants centred on cyber security awareness and information policies.

The study underscored that, although corporate organisations had a good knowledge of IT, their awareness of cyber security remains limited. It observed that most organisations in Ghana are not integrating legal aspects into their information security policies. It proposed the need to increase the security awareness of corporate organisation, particularly because of the vulnerabilities they are exposed to.

The implication of the paper with respect to theory, practice and future research lies in the recommendations the authors have proffered, such as the implementation of security awareness training programme, need assessment and the outsourcing of qualified service providers.

The study is useful for policy makers in the management of Ghana’s IT infrastructure.

This study is being undertaken at a period when Ghana has made progressive development and giant steps in the IT industry compared to its counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa. The developed nature of Ghana’s IT infrastructure requires the development of policies for cyber security to prevent data loses and protect the national infrastructure from threats. Undertaking a study on cyber security in an environment where cyber issues are hardly discussed is worthwhile.

The paper aims to show how the introduction of the concept of universal service in the French telecommunications sector was impacted by the existence of a strong national tradition of public services. It also aims to show that universal service, as it is defined by the European telecom regulatory framework, was not the only possible set‐up. It also seeks to show how the concept of universal service was adapted to the French national situation and spread beyond the telecommunications sector.

The approach of the paper is chronological, starting with an analysis of the French tradition of public services and then showing how the discussion developed in France on the topic of universal service in the telecommunications sector. Then the paper deals with the practical implementation of universal service in the telecommunications sector and other sectors in France.

The paper shows that even though the French traditional views on public services did not make it easy to implement the European version of universal service in the telecommunications sector, it nevertheless happened. Universal service even spread beyond the telecommunications sector in France.

The paper concentrates on French views on the topic and does not study the opinions of other stakeholders (the European Commission, other member states) as regards the French national tradition of public services.

The paper can be used as a guide to ongoing discussions on the evolution of universal service in Europe as it provides alternate views on the topic.

The paper provides a comprehesive review of the topic.

This study explores how the national artificial intelligence (AI) strategies and policies in four sub-Saharan African countries – Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana and Gabon – influence the adoption of AI in journalism. In the journalistic world, AI have been mainly used for news gathering, production and distribution. Irrespective of the prospects, the pervasive nature of AI brings with it a host of challenges concerning privacy, gender, and ethnic bias. Despite its relevance to journalism, the challenges associated with using AI necessitate the need for policy frameworks that guide the development and usage of these technologies. At a global level, UNESCO has established a normative framework which lays out principles and standards regarding how member states formulate policies that ensures ethical and healthy development of AI. Using document analysis and the technological determinism theory, the study investigated how the national AI policies and strategies of these countries is impacting journalism and highlights the challenges to the adoption of the technology in the field. In lieu of the AI-specific laws, the countries seem to loosely rely on their data protection acts to govern aspects of AI use involving automated decision making. Mauritius was found to be the only country in the study with a set national AI strategy.