CEO calls for NGN ‘New Deal’ in current economic climate

Telecom Italia’s CEO Franco Bernabe, speaking at a conference yesterday, said the cost implications of building out next generation networks (NGN) will require collaboration between operators, governments and regulators. Bernabe said the investment required would be, ‘huge, unprecedented for private industry’ and given the current uncertain international economic climate could be too risky for individual operators to undertake without support. He went on to say, ‘This situation requires new solutions, a ‘New Deal’ type of agreement between operators, governments and regulators to both provide suitable investment incentives and stimulate competition.’ Bernabe called for a ‘light regulatory approach’ to NGNs which would guarantee adequate returns on investment, offer deregulation based on geographic markets and foster infrastructure sharing.