A PYMNTS Company

Ex-ante margin squeeze tests in the telecommunications industry: What is a reasonably efficient operator?

By  |  November 6, 2012

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    Germain Gaudina (Telecom Paris Tech) and Claudia Saavedra Valenzuela (Orange) ask Ex-ante margin squeeze tests in the telecommunications industry: What is a reasonably efficient operator?

    ABSTRACT: In this paper, we study the adjustments made by National Regulatory Authorities to simple margin squeeze tests, in order to model a reasonably efficient operator. More precisely, by inspecting the possible differences between an entrant and an incumbent that would cause a market disadvantage for the former, we provide a formal economic framework that translates these ex-ante disadvantages into practical test adjustments. We identify five possible adjustments relevant to ex-ante margin squeeze tests, on the cost, the access charge, or the price parameters. We then review the implementation of margin squeeze tests by European telecommunications National Regulatory Authorities according to these adjustments, as to build a comparable benchmark of implementation choices.