While the older landline companies such as AT&T in the US have for some time been forced to open up their landline networks to competitors, internet phone operator Skype had made an official request to the regulators to see if open access to all wireless networks was on the agenda. They argued that under an old telecoms competition law, AT&T and other companies should be forced to open up their wireless networks to companies such as Skype. So what was the outcome?

After much deliberation the authorities have ruled that there is more than enough competition in the wireless network industry and they will not be making the older telecom companies open up their wireless networks to third parties. As many have actually decided to do so voluntarily, after laying down firm ground rules to those who may want to access their systems, it seemed a little harsh for Skype to ask for yet more access. It seems that Skype believe that they have more to benefit than most, a reason why they have been more than a little vocal in their thoughts about the ruling.

The next few years are a vital time for telecom companies around the globe as the internet offers an entry route into each and every broadband enabled home around the world. While the US companies fight amongst themselves for more open access to existing networks, many are concerned that EU regulators are a little slow off the mark, something which may leave the non-US market open to domination from the US carriers.

However, those who discount the older telecom groups will do so at their peril, because the likes of BT in the UK and AT&T in the US are far from dead and buried. They may have had their traditional market share eroded by new entrants, but let us not forget that many of these new entrants have now left the market or gone bankrupt. More and more customers are looking to return to the more old school telecoms of this world, in the knowledge that they will still be there tomorrow! With age comes experience and the skill to ride out difficult markets.