True or False

[Bono]

1. The phone network is a natural monopoly.

2. Optimus just released a wireless broadband service.

3. TV-Cabo cable network is independent from Portugal Telecom's phone network.

4. Cabovisão has their own network and provide TV+Telephone+Internet.

5. ARTelecom is setting up a network independent from that of PT.

6. It is possible to supply comunication serices through the power network.

[Bono]

The idea communication infrastructures are natural monopolies was always used to justify state monopolies in that area. This is curious, on two levels. One, an argument against monopolies has been used to justify monopolies that retarded technological development and hurt consumers for years. Two, on the second the monopoly was lifted, there started appearing in the market inovative information carrying technologies that disprove the thesis of natural monopoly.


A ideia de que as infraestruturas de telecomunicações são monopólios naturais sempre foi usada para justificar os monopólios do estado nessa actividade. Isto é curioso a dois níveis. Em primeiro lugar, um argumento contra os monopólios foi usado para justificar monopólios que atrasaram o desenvolvimento tecnológico e prejudicaram o consumidor durante anos. Em segundo lugar, mal o monopólio foi levantado começaram a aparecer no mercado tecnologias inovadoras de transporte de informação que desmentem a tese do monopólio natural.