Broadband and Convergence

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between broadband and the worldview of “convergence” that has been adopted by policy makers in many countries. Convergence is a vision of the future – in this Big Picture many technologies and industries have merged and have one or more of the following features: the Big Pipe, the Big Box, the Big Company and Big Brother. The paper argues that broadband technologies, in a time of convergence, have great implications for diversity and competition in the communications sector. However, broadband, as a delivery system (the Big Pipe), is only one aspect of a complex system driving the communications sector in two directions – toward convergence and toward divergence. What are the issues of convergence, and can/should governments promote broadband with or without promoting other visions of Convergence? The conclusions are: that there are important connections between broadband and convergence issues; that there is a lack of understanding as to the natural evolution of the phenomena of convergence; and that it is unknown who will be the ultimate economic, social and cultural winners and losers. In fact, what is to be lost and gained by promoting (or forcing) convergence is difficult to predict. Regulatory and policy changes should therefore be made with great care.