Smart Connections for All
Transport and ICT
Global Practice
Infrastructure Sharing and Co-
Deployment IssuesThe World Bank
Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway
SC MeetingBangkok, December 12, 2017
Natasha Beschorner
Potential benefits of infrastructure sharing
Source: Deloitte, APC, Unlocking broadband for all, 2015
https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/Unlocking%20broadband%20for%20all%20Full%20report.pdf
Types of infrastructure sharing/co-deployment
Telecommunications
� Infrastructure sharing between telecom operators:
− Passive
− Active
� Passive infrastructure sharing:
− Shared towers for mobile networks
− Shared ducts for fibre optic cables
− Shared use of fibre strands in FO cable
− Shared use of wavelengths on a fibre strand
− Shared access to buildings
� Active network sharing:
− Wide range of variations from radio network sharing to roaming,
wholesale offers and MVNOs.
� Typically about 70-80% of investment in the future broadband
infrastructure is in passive infrastructure so that should be first
priority to avoid unnecessary duplication
Mobile infrastructure sharing
Source: GSMA, Mobile Infrastructure Sharing
https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Mobile-Infrastructure-sharing.pdf
Passive
Active
Source: https://www.towerxchange.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/11/TX_AsiaDossier_2017.pdf
Tower-sharing “heat map”
Cross-sector infrastructure sharing
� Roads:
− New road construction should always consider to include
ducts (like HDPE pipe) for future fibre optic deployment. Low
additional cost at the time of initial construction, high costs if
done later.
� High tension lines for electricity (PLN):
− Important option for long-distance FO backbone. Often added
to the groundwire.
� Railways:
− FO cable along railroads for long-distance FO backbone
� Pipelines (gas, oil, water)
− FO cable along pipelines for FO backbone
� Utility poles :
− Existing utility poles are often the most cost-efficient solution
to bring FO cables to the home
� Sewage pipes:
− Can be used to bring FO into the home/building
Some business models for infrastructure sharing
• Joint development: infrastructure owners and telcos (e.g. network operators) coordinate in planning and construction
• Hosting: infrastructure owner hosts third party telco network equipment
• Dark fibre: host provides passive infrastructure for lease to network operator
• Joint venture: infrastructure owner provides network owner with use of existing infrastructure to provide commercial service on profit-sharing basis
• Wholesale telecom service: infrastructure owner provides commercial wholesale service to network operators
Potential impediments/disincentives
• Revenue-sharing arrangements
• Institutional silos
• Complex contractual arrangements, whether private or public sector; limitations on SOEs
• Financial constraints on SOEs
• Governance structures of SOEs
Issues for consideration
� Implement measures to encourage cross-sectoral
infrastructure sharing
� Mandate passive infrastructure sharing for towers, ducts,
poles, and other rights of way. This represents the dominant
component of the future broadband infrastructure and
unnecessary duplication should be avoided
� Allow active infrastructure sharing but don’t mandate it.
Leave this to commercial arrangements between operators
� Commercial terms for infrastructure sharing should be
transparent, fair/economic and non-discriminatory
� Mandate access at market conform price levels for
bottleneck backbone facilities (like submarine cable routes
which are not easily replicated).
Enabling measures: duct access regime in selected countries
� Usage permitted for leased lines, fixed and mobile backhaul
� Facilitated through:
� Availability of online systems containing up-to-date information on
duct location and availability, with measures to ensure accuracy of
such data
� Removal of requirements to conduct a feasibility analysis, where
online information shows that there is availability
� Accreditation for engineers so that alternative operators can access
physical infrastructure without supervision
� Measures to give access seekers more autonomy in accessing
ducts and cables (e.g. notifying after access)
� Mechanisms to allow access seekers to recover or defray the costs
associated with improvements to the incumbent infrastructure
� (Examples from France, Spain, Portugal)
https://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone-images/public-policy/reports/pdf/best-practice-passive-infrastructure-access-050517.pdf
Institutional Roles-illustrative
Policymakers
� Incorporate cross-sector
infrastructure deployment in
broadband policies
� Encourage cross-sector
consultations for infrastructure
developments, both urban and
rural
� Provide sufficient financial
support to ensure infrastructure
sharing can take place where
public works are undertaken by
the government
� Create planning databases
containing detailed information
of infrastructure available for
sharing
ICT Regulators
� Include obligations in planning
approval procedures to ensure
the inclusion of infrastructure for
sharing (mandatory ducts, free
space for an additional network
operator)
� Operators receiving universal
service fund financing share the
subsidized infrastructure with
others
Other Regulators
� Awareness-raising/advocacy
� Guidelines and measures to
support prudent initiatives by
regulated enterprises
� Facilitate use of rights of way
(e.g. single entity responsible
for tariff setting for rights of
way)
Some references
� UK:− OFCOM, Consultation on Duct and Pole Access remedies
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/101051/duct-pole-access-remedies-consultation.pdf
− Openreach Duct and pole sharing overview:
https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/ductandpoleaccess/ductandpoleaccess/downloads/Duc
tandPoleSharingOverview.pdf
� Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT):− Presentation on Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA): http://www.apt.int/sites/default/files/2012/05/INP-
07_PIA_OVUM_0.pdf
� Vodafone-commissioned study: − Best practice for passive infrastructure access, http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone-
images/public-policy/reports/pdf/best-practice-passive-infrastructure-access-050517.pdf
� Rwanda: − Guidelines for sharing of fibre and duct infrastructure,
http://www.rura.rw/uploads/media/GUIDELINES_for_fibre_and_Duct_Sharing_v12.pdf
� India:− Consultation Paper on Infrastructure Sharing (passive and active)
http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/consultationpaper29nov06.pdf and responses
http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Responses_CP_29Nov06.pdf
� World Bank: Cross-Sector Infrastructure Sharing− Consultation Paper for policymakers and regulators
− http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/307251492818674685/Cross-Sector-Infrastructure-Sharing-Toolkit-final-
170228.pdf
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