ICF Broadband Agendas - Municipal Open Access Networks

Open access for broadband is a powerful idea. Communications companies have traditionally designed, built, owned and operated their own infrastructure, whether it is copper wires, cell towers, coaxial cable or fiber optics. In the open access model, a third party builds and owns the infrastructure – and in some cases provides basic transport-level communications service – and communication companies purchase capacity on it to deliver broadband, voice and video services. The communications carriers continue to own the relationship with the customer but no longer bear the capital costs of the network. Open access tends to drive up the level of competition in the market – reducing prices and increasing capacity – because new entrants can avoid the immense cost of building the infrastructure. Open access networks have worked best in urban areas most likely to attract new competitors but can be successful in rural ones as well.

In this Broadband Agendas webinar from ICF, hear from Anders Broberg, Director of Communications for AB Stokab, as he discusses this revolutionary Open Access Network in Stockholm, Sweden.