THE EVOLUTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION IN THE UK

The telecommunications sector in the UK since 1984 has gone through th e stages of duopoly (1984-1991) and a transition to competition (1991- 1997) accompanied by detailed and interventionist regulation. Regulato ry policy is now directed at ''normalisation'', involving increased re liance on standard competition. The implication of these stages for di fferent dimensions of regulation, such as price control and interconne ction, are analysed, and the prospects of success for normalisation as sessed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.