e suppliers to Oct. 1982. General licence was granted for the provision of a speed up the introduction of MAN interconnections across range of value added network services over UK networks. In Europe. effect this opened up the services market to competition. 4. Managed European Transmission Network (METRAN), which April 1984. Telecommunications Act was passed, which estab- is a CEPT initiative for the introduction of a high speed trans- lished the regulatory framework within the UK, policed by mission backbone across Europe. It will be based on SDH and Oftel (Office of Telecommunications). is targeted for introduction in 1995. Nov. 1984. BT was privatised, the UK government selling 51% of 5. Global European Network (GEN), which is a joint venture its shares in a public flotation, which was heavily over-sub- between several major European PTOs for the early introduc- scribed. tion of a high speed network based on leased lines. This would March 1986. Two licences were awarded for provision of nation- eventually be replaced by the METRAN development. wide Private Mobile Radio (PMR). Hermes, which is a consortium of European railway com- Oct. 1988. Six Specialised Satellite Service Operators (SSSOs) panies, co-operating in providing a high speed network by were licensed. using optical fibre laid along their railway rights of way. Sev- Jan. 1989. Four telepoint licences were announced. The initial eral foreign partners, mainly USA based telecommunications launch of telepoint within the UK was unsuccessful, primarily operators, are involved. If successful this development could due to poor marketing and the threat from PCN. provide a strong challenge to the European PTO's own network Dec. 1989. Three PCN licences were announced. infrastructure. 11.3.3.5 Economic considerations The United Kingdom represents the most open market in Europe Economic considerations play a major role within the telecommuni- and one of the most open in the world. The market began to be cations model of Figure 11.1, and are linked closely to o