A common expression is OPEX, operational expenditure, described in this chapter. The performance versus cost aspects. This is regulated in rules for network design and dimensioning. Chapter 7 on QoS brings up the issue. The security aspects when the IP technology is widely employed. See Chapter 6. The time frame is also important for this corner, because of the fast development. 4.3.3 THE TELECOM BUSINESS CORNER Since the early 1930s to the late 1980s telecommunication markets have been regulated monopolistic national markets, ruled by the national PTT (Post Telegraph and Telecom- munication), and usually state owned. Deregulation has now reached most parts of the globe and monopolistic state-owned operators are becoming rare. Most countries have several operators competing in the big market areas and many calls have to traverse different operators' networks. Competition and privately owned operators create an environment where the main goal is profitability. Most issues related to the social impact of telecommunication such as service costs and accessibility, e.g. for the handicapped, lie in the hands of the regulatory authorities. Telecommunication business has nowadays little or no differences with any other business activity. Furthermore having high capital investment demands, operators have to be very aggressive in order to drive investor support. The present time is harsh for the operators. Lack of profitability may cause funding difficulties and therefore marketing weakness and technology obsolescence, leading the operator towards a future possible collapse. As a matter of fact, the mortality of operators either due to bankruptcy, mergers or take-over has been substantial along these years, even in pretty favourable periods of overall business evolution. See also Figure 4.11. Within this environment, the operator's corporate management has a goal that is very simple to formulate but difficult to implement: 'To keep both end users and investors simultaneously happy'. The requirements of the end user have be