Resumen

GARCIA OLVERA, Lester. Network Externalities in the Mexican Mobile Market: Policy Analysis and Conclusions. Gest. polít. pública [online]. 2012, vol.21, n.1, pp.3-43. ISSN 1405-1079.

In telecommunications policy, network externalities have been a policy and argumentative tool to incentivize the expansion of mobile network by adding the value of the externality to the mobile termination rate. However, this has caused aseries of market distortions that contradict the regulator's objective of constructing better market conditions for the benefit of service users. As mobile networks reach certain level of development, network externalities premiums on the termination rate are less justified. This paper presents a simple model that shows evidence that suggests that the level of development of the Mexican mobile network offers no support for a network externalities premium on the termination rate level. Additionally, the paper presents discussion on the market distortions caused by high mobile termination rates in Mexico and offers policy conclusions, which are particularly relevant at this point, as the Mexican regulator should renew its mobile interconnection rate approach and policy.

Palabras llave : public policy; telecommunications; industrial policy; telecommunications industry; price policy; economic regulation; telecommunications regulation; prices.