Regulatory framework of the sector-specific and competition rules in the telecommunications sector in Turkey in the light of the EU Law


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2008

Öğrenci: DUYGU AYDEMİR

Danışman: GAMZE AŞÇIOĞLU ÖZ

Özet:

This thesis examines the role of the sector-specific rules and competition rules in the liberalized telecommunications markets. It aims to analyse the design of the legal and institutional framework of these two sets of rules in the liberalized telecommunications sector in Turkey in the light of the EU law. To this purpose, the thesis initially compares and contrasts the main characteristics of and shared responsibilities between the sector-specific and economy-wide competition rules and institutions in the post-liberalization and post-privatization period. Then, the thesis explores the EU approach on the balance of influence between these two sets of rules and institutions. Against this background, the thesis examines role, design and interaction of the sector-specific and competition rules and institutions in the recently liberalized Turkish telecommunications markets. It, also, analyses some important competition law cases concluded by the Competition Authority. The thesis has two main arguments. Firstly, it argues that liberalization and privatization in the telecommunications sector does not automatically lead to the competitive environment in the sector. Competitiveness of the markets after the postliberalization and post-privatization period critically depends on the existence of a robust, coherent, and transparent regulatory framework ensuring a smooth balance between the sector-specific and the competition rules and institutions. Second argument is that sector-specific rules have a transitional character. As telecommunications markets move towards effective competition, sector-specific regulation will be reduced and the role of the competition rules in those markets will increase.