In order to understand the roles that public administrations can take, it is useful to view the different layers that make up a broadband network as well as main business roles.
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A broadband network broadly consists of passive infrastructure and active equipment, on top of which the services are delivered:
- The passive infrastructure consisting of physical infrastructure (pipes, masts, ducts, inspection chambers, manholes, cabinets, buildings or entries to buildings, antenna installations, towers and poles) and the broadband cables proper (the transmission medium)
- The active equipment (transponders, routers and switches, radio base stations, control and management servers).
- The actual services that provide value to the end users (internet, telephony, TV, e-health, etc.).
The three network layers are characterised by different technical and economic features, and three main business roles can be identified:
- The physical infrastructure provider (PIP), who owns and maintains the passive infrastructure (characterised by long-term investments and low need for technical know-how), in the backbone or access part of the network;
- The network provider (NP), who operates, and typically owns, the active equipment (characterised by shorter-term investments and high need for technical know-how);
- The service provider (SP), who delivers the broadband services, such as e-health, elder care, TV, internet, phone, video conferencing, entertainment, teleworking, smart monitoring, etc. (characterised by short-term investments and high end-user interaction).
For further details and examples please refer to the Broadband Investment Handbook.
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