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The deployment of next generation communications (NGC) progresses unevenly, frequently suffering from insufficient interoperability. Interoperability remains a fundamental driver for NGC diffusion, but existing theories remain vague on how to ensure its provision. Since interoperability features increasing returns and public good regimes, its market provision may be hampered. At the same time, public efforts might be ineffective when colliding with private operators' incentives. Sometimes, the policy instruments used might even distort technological diffusion and competition in a way incompatible with a market‐neutral approach. This paper aims to investigate these issues.

This paper first reviews the literature on the economics of standardisation, the provision of private and public goods and the regulation of NGC. Then, it illustrates the EU policy on interactive television. Finally, it presents a research case study, analysing the recent implementation of this policy in Italy.

Coherently with the hypothesis of the literature, the case study confirms that the public‐private interplay for interoperability is complex, and that the public and subsidised provision of an open standard might be captured by private interests.

The case study is representative of the dilemmas affecting future policy‐making in NGC. More case studies will corroborate the above findings, better clarifying the available options to ensure a virtuous public private interplay.

Policy should be carefully framed in a way to impose market‐neutral implementations. Further, open standards – although valuable – are not a panacea and can be useless when systemically tied to other proprietary intellectual property rights (IPRs).

This is a first case study in a new field of policy assessment. The evidence provided is valuable for scholars, practitioners and policy‐makers dealing with NGC.

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the policy tools to complement public involvement and public‐private collaboration in the deployment of next generation electronic communications infrastructures.

The special issue, of which this paper is a part, examines a number of policy tools that support public involvement and enhance public‐private partnering in next generation infrastructures, tools that are generally overlooked. The papers explore the main domains where these complementary actions might take place. They encompass policies directed to the demand and supply sides of the market, information society and industrial innovation policies, additional measures that can be taken by local and regional public administrations and new policy tools to foster user empowerment.

From the authors' perspective, public involvement and public‐private partnering for the deployment of next generation infrastructures in telecommunications will require an integrated policy approach. The appropriate policy mix includes instruments of innovation, information society development and new user empowerment.

This paper introduces a timely contribution to the debate on public support of next generation infrastructures in electronic communications.

This study aims to examine consumers' purchasing and consumption behavior regarding big data embedded in packaged food post-Covid-19. The second purpose is to determine whether consumer purchasing behavior varies depending on the variety and volume of big data on food packages.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate consumer sentiment regarding big embedded data in packaged foods during purchasing. Based on samples from packaged foods sold in international chain stores, interview data collected from 24 participants were subjected to systematic analytical procedures.

The results revealed that before Covid-19, consumers had positive thoughts about the expiration date, brand, and product contents but did not care much about other data. At the same time, post-Covid-19, there were changes in their attitudes and behaviors on this issue. Post-Covid-19, it has been observed that consumers have positive attitudes and behaviors toward human health and food safety issues regarding unprocessed big data in packaged foods.

This study provides a different perspective on consumer purchasing behavior through big data on packaged foods post-Covid-19. Embedded information in packaged foods provides important data regarding consumer purchasing behavior. As a powerful source of consumer sentiment, this data also provides a reference for consumer purchasing decisions.