The ITU is holding its 8th Global Symposium for Regulators in Pattaya, Thailand this week, with a theme of “Six Degrees of Sharing: Innovative Infrastructure Sharing and Open Access Strategies to Promote Affordable Access for all.”

Open access on mobile networks has been a recurring theme recently. Sharing is a different matter. How can networks be shared and still promote product differentiation? There are a number of models globally, some of which will be discussed at The 2008 Canadian Telecom Summit in June.

In view of yesterday’s deadline for participation in Canada’s upcoming AWS auction, I wonder if there are any network sharing plans among the applicants. Perhaps the right question is not “if” but rather “how many of” the business plans call for sharing of networks with other operators? Have any incumbents, especially those on CDMA networks, looked at network sharing as a means to overlay GSM platforms – with a reduced hit on capital?

On an obliquely related topic, I received a note last week about an initiative to promote improved ICT infrastructure to indigenous communities in the Americas. How would network sharing and open access further the objectives of the Indigenous Commission for Communication Technologies in the Americas (ICCTA).

An increased reliance on market forces means that the role of regulators, gathered this week in Thailand, is shifting from economic regulation to social regulation. In an information based economy, how should we define universal service and basic service obligations? What do these mean in a competitive industry structure?

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ITU, ICCTA, Canadian Telecom Summit

In the classes I teach at University of Toronto, I try to impart to the engineering students an appreciation of the level of influence played by government policy and regulation. This week, Ottawa again becomes a focal point for the telecom industry in Canada

Later today, anxious wireless service providers in waiting will engage couriers to try to anonymously deliver packages to the 15th floor of 300 Slater Street. Those packages will have the application forms and irrevocable letters of credit for authorization to bid in the upcoming Advanced Wireless Services auction. We should have the list of applicants by Friday, although the list will not include a statement of whether or not Industry Canada has approved the companies’ ownership structures.

I will be watching to see if Montreal-based artist Matthew Biederman submits an application, possibly under the name “The Office of Spectral Ecology.” A news story discusses his “poetic” aspirations for an “open and free” public space. He hopes various arts councils will back him financially. I would love to hear your comments on this proposal.

And in other news, across the river, CRTC hearings resume tomorrow in the matter of Bell’s change in ownership. Following the dismissal of the bondholders’ suit, CRTC approval is a final gate to pass through in order to move to closing. The key open issue remaining for the CRTC to examine is confirmation that pension fund rules will permit Teachers’ planned special voting structure through a trustee; Ontario pension rules limit direct ownership to 30%.

These are some previews of coming attractions. I’ll try to provide more as it happens, complete with commentary. Just like you see on those Buffalo TV stations: Fire in Tonawanda, film at 11. Stay tuned to this channel.

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CRTC, Industry Canada, AWS Auction, Bell

In its deferral account decision at the beginning of the year, the CRTC acknowledged that fixed wireless broadband that can deliver a service comparable to DSL.

However, as the CRTC ruled yesterday, not all fixed wireless service is the same.

In reviewing the fixed wireless service used by Mitchell Seaforth Cable TV to extend the reach of its service, the CRTC found that the $600 one-time service charge “is sufficiently large so as to be unaffordable for a large proportion of residents.”

As such, the Commission is going to allow Bell to draw funds from the deferral account in order to off-set the uneconomic portion of its business case to provide DSL service to certain portions of Dublin, Ontario. The Commission’s policy is that some variation in rates is to be expected and is acceptable. However, the rates cannot be considered comparable when a significant installation cost applies. The Commission makes an assessment of whether the service charges, alone or in combination with the monthly fee, make the service “unreasonably expensive for a large proportion of the general public in the identified community.”

There is no presumption that rates have to be subsidized; just a reasonably comparable affordability test.

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CRTC, deferral account, Bell

Steve Silva heads up the connected home integration group at Cisco and he will be joining our cast of speakers at The 2008 Canadian Telecom Summit. The theme for this year’s conference is “Maintaining relevance for the Consumer” so it is especially relevant to hear Cisco’s vision of the connected home – the battleground between cablecos and telcos.

Steve’s background includes senior roles at major US cable companies Charter and Comcast. It is his job to pull together a cohesive CPE strategy across Cisco, coupling together the acquired capabilities of Linksys and Scientific Atlanta. He should bring an interesting perspective.

I was recently pointed to articles that speak of false starts into mobile wireless services by cablecos south of the border; Cable Digital News suggests that Rogers is an example to be followed:

If SpectrumCo is in search of a how-to guide, they would be well served by peering north at the successful broadband mobile deployment by Rogers Communications Inc.

Canada’s largest cable MSO and mobile carrier, Rogers has rolled out its High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network in 25 markets covering nearly 60 percent of the country’s population.

Rogers President and COO, Nadir Mohamed, will deliver the opening keynote address on June 16, the first day of The 2008 Canadian Telecom Summit.

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Steve Silva, Cisco, Nadir Mohamed, Rogers, Canadian Telecom Summit

Nortel CTO John Roese writes in his blog posting about what he terms the journey to transform the company.

Among other areas, he comments on changes in the executive ranks (as I noted last April) and shifts in the company operating structure.

He speaks of Nortel CEO Mike Zafirovski’s plan to turn Nortel into

a high-performance company that is consistently profitable and is known for its technology innovation, outstanding quality and operational excellence.

Mike Z will be delivering a keynote address on the afternoon of June 16, the first day of The 2008 Canadian Telecom Summit.