Communications as a networked public service – What is left of public service in a liberalised competitive market?

Abstract

The study includes the results of detailed research on what public service means among networked services. In this context, by means of a comprehensive analysis it defines the main conceptual elements, characteristics and the distinguishing criteria of public services from other services. The study groups the types of public service on a theoretical basis. Using communications as an example, it demonstrates what state, public interest and public service elements remain in the market of these services, in the competitive market environment, after the liberalisation of public services. The main question examined is whether any public service content is necessary for the functioning of market competition on the basis of consumers, public policy, the state, the provision of services and market considerations, or whether liberalisation solves everything by placing a public supply system into market competition and privatising it. The research concludes that in all cases and types the public interest operation of the “former public service” still requires certain public service elements, which the study presents along scientific grounds.

Keywords

• networked public service
• liberalisation
• privatisation
• state property
• communications