s layers. From a public policy point of view, broadband telecommunications is vital to a national Broadband Telecommunications Technologies and Management Content and services layer Connectivity retail layer Infrastructure layer Subscriber/end-user Figure 1.2 Broadband telecommunications industry ecosystem Technology Figure 1.3 Technology-business-policy framework economy. Furthermore, there are monopoly considerations, as well as privacy and confiden- tiality issues which require government attention and often regulation. Analysing a broadband telecommunications business is complex; it requires examination of technology, business and policy issues. The Royal Mail telecommunications system is a good example of the analysis model we use extensively in this book. In this model three important elements contribute to the success of a product: technology, business and policy [7]. As illustrated in Figure 1.3, the three elements influence each other: the technology value proposition provides business advantage, which exists within a policy milieu, which may be subject to adjustment and government intervention. Policy direction may in turn influence the technology selection process, thereby closing the loop. We demonstrate that an overall evaluation of all three elements is necessary in analysing a telecommunications technology product. Clearly different products depend to a different degree on each aspect, but nevertheless all three will impact on a product's success. The technology-business-policy framework is valuable to telecom analysts as it enables them to first examine whether a telecommunications technology is reliable and efficient. Next it requires them to consider costs of development of the product, provision of service, Introduction maintenance and SO on, and determines whether a product can be sold to a customer for a price to produce a profit. It then needs to review the national and global policy issues that govern product development and service delivery, and determines product compliance; or, if necess