China’s telecommunications evolution,institutions, and policy issues on the eve of 5G: A two-decade retrospect and prospect

Over the past two decades, China’s telecommunications industry has witnessed drastic market reform, steadfast institutionalization, and volatile technological changes, which have driven exponential industry expansion. This paper offers an updated longitudinal and comprehensive review on this reform process on the eve of 5G (the fifth generation mobile communications networks). First, the paper segments the two-decade reform crusade into discernible phases, each of which is embedded with different policy drives. These reform phases are then pattern-matched against the subtleties of the overall institutional, technological, and market backdrop. A series of policy issues are identified through a systematic examination of industry phenomena over the reform course. Finally, the status of research is assessed regarding China’s telecom industry and reform, based on which, knowledge gaps are identified and future research agenda suggested. Conclusions are made regarding future reform and research imperatives. The paper advances the understanding of China’s telecom reform, development, and the underlying policy issues. It updates and expands previous works on similar topics. Overall, this study provides important theoretical, managerial, and policy implications.     

Business model fashion and the academic spinout firm

Studies indicate that most European new, technology–based firms (NTBFs) have been founded by relatively senior, highly–educated personnel coming from existing companies. These founders already have strong, industry and market links. A relatively small proportion have spun out of university or other public research facilities. However, this latter group has attracted particular attention from several interested groups, including governments and the scientific establishment. For governments, this has appeared to offer a means whereby public policy could have a direct and significant impact on economic development. Hence substantial public resources are increasingly being committed to support these developments in most industrialised countries. The founders of HEI spinouts are often academics aiming to commercialise nascent technologies and they face challenges which are less likely to arise for the founder with an industry background. The emerging technologies often commercialised in academic spinouts may have many potential applications. At the outset founders must make critical strategic choices of applications to develop, if they are to attract the substantial resources often needed for the risky development process. Some of these choices need an understanding of changing fashions in business models and investors' current preferences for particular industries. It is a difficult challenge for academic founders with little prior market knowledge and linkages, and no previous experience of professional investors and their requirements, to select the applications and business models which will support successful venture creation. This paper explores a number of key issues which surround these decisions and their relation to the changing business environment. It is concluded that the acceptability of novel technologies and products is mediated by systemic interactions which are ill–understood by industry and government.     

提升总体劳动收入份额过程中的结构优化问题研究——基于产业与部门的视角

基于收入法GDP和资金流量表核算的劳动收入份额数据,本文在探讨劳动收入份额构成、波动性并进行结构分解的基础上,研究了总体劳动收入份额稳步提升中的结构优化问题。在提升总体劳动收入份额过程中,在保持产业(部门)结构相对稳定时要重视产业(部门)内部劳动收入份额的结构优化,在维持产业(部门)劳动收入份额相对稳定时要重视不同产业(部门)增加值比重提高过程中的产业(部门)结构优化;还要重视产业(部门)内部效应和产业(部门)结构效应的协同对稳步提升总体劳动收入份额的综合效应。在优化结构时稳定维持第一产业(企业部门)劳动收入份额和努力增加第三产业(住户部门)增加值占国民经济的比重对提升总体劳动收入份额至关重要。     

Motives and means for public investment in nationwide next generation networks

There is now strong interest among governments in allocating public funds for the purpose of promoting investment in very high speed broadband. Motives include industrial policy, and the attainment of equity objectives and of economic recovery. The paper examines the various dimensions of choice over where and how to intervene. It also considers three nationwide broadband plans in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, in each of which industrial policy appears to be the major objective, combined with equity goals. Particular attention is paid to the resolution of problems related to the incumbents’ legacy assets.     

Leadership with 5G in Europe: Two contrasting images of the future,with policy and regulatory implications

European policy makers have shown a keen interest in the success of 5G because ubiquitous and high capacity electronic communication infrastructure is recognized as a cornerstone of economic development and productivity growth. The second generation, GSM, is considered the leading example, reaching its peak of deployment in 2015 with 3.83 billion subscribers served by over 700 operators in 219 countries and territories.With 5G rapidly shaping up in the R&D and standardization environments, and a call for leadership with 5G in Europe by policy makers, it is timely to investigate what lessons can be learned from the success of 2G that can be applied to 5G. More broadly, this calls for research into the commonalities and differences between successive generations of mobile technology, their introduction and the market adoption that followed. This also calls for an investigation into the possibility of multiple futures of 5G and how that impacts the opportunity for leadership. As one future may be more desirable than the other, depending on the perspective of the actor involved, a policy debate will be required to determine the most desirable future. As well as a discussion of the policy and regulatory actions required to enable a particular future.Hence, the two-part research question being addressed in this paper is: What explains the success of 2G-GSM and how can it be applied to create success with 5G in the European Union?To respond to the research question this paper first identifies the leadership lessons to be drawn from the success of 2G-GSM in relation to its successors 3G and 4G. Secondly, the contribution describes two stylized images of possible futures of 5G, called “Evolution” and “Revolution”, as input to the policy debate on the options for leadership with 5G. These images reflect two extremes in terms of possible futures of 5G. “Evolution” follows the pattern of previous generations and current trends. “Revolution” represents a clear break with these trends and a path towards leadership with 5G, as it exploits the opportunities of standardized APIs for service creation, being enabled by network virtualization as an architectural foundation of 5G. These open and uniformly applied APIs allow the market entry of a multitude of virtual mobile network operators (VMNOs) serving particular industry verticals or economic sectors with tailored feature sets and qualities of services. They allow a market momentum to be built that constitutes leadership with 5G in Europe.     

Internet of things and the economics of 5G-based local industrial networks

Fifth generation (5G) networks raise governance and management challenges that did not exist in 3G and 4G wireless technologies. Advanced wireless functionality enables new applications and services based on smart, physical, network infrastructures, many of them expected to be localized. As a general-purpose technology, 5G can be configured in numerous ways to support innovative applications across many sectors. Smart network applications and services must integrate physical and virtual components in innovative ways. In addition, general capabilities of 5G must be combined with complementary technologies, such as big data analytics and edge cloud services, to create services for specific use cases. Varying throughput and latency requirements of distinct use cases require differentiated technical solutions. Appropriate frequencies must be aligned efficiently with other features within the footprint of particular, local industrial networks. National policy makers, suppliers, and users are responding differently to these governance and management challenges. These approaches balance differently the trade-offs between experimentation, differentiation, and harmonization. Comparative analysis can inform gradual improvements of the governance of 5G-based, local industrial networks.     

Korea's leadership in 5G and beyond: Footprints and futures

The Korean government has played a crucial role in the development of advanced mobile networks, including 5G. Korea became the first country in the world to not only launch a nationwide 5G network but also to commercialize 5G services. In addition to looking at the steps toward 5G-related developments in Korea, this study used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling analysis to examine how 5G-related discourse was formed in the media after its commercialization. As a result of analyzing news articles in the Korean press with 5G as the main keyword, a total of five topics were derived. Intriguingly, most topics contained several new articles related to government policies. Considering the characteristics of the mobile network industry—e.g. as an industry that receives licenses from the government—this result suggests that 5G-related issues are closely related to government policies. Our topic modeling results confirm that the interventionist promotion policy of the Korean government which acted as a catalyst for technology and business innovation played an important role in Korea's 5G leadership.     

The evolving 5G case study in United States unilateral spectrum planning and policy

This paper tracks increasingly aggressive initiatives by the United States government to reallocate spectrum on an expedited and unilateral basis well before conclusion of inter-governmental coordination. Rather than embrace the customary commitment to achieve consensus on global spectrum allocations at the International Telecommunication Union (“ITU”), the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has auctioned off large blocks of frequencies for the next generation (“5G”) of wireless services.The FCC might have framed its first 5G auction, reassigning Ultra High Frequency (“UHF”) spectrum, as a one-time deviation from compliance with long standing, intergovernmental coordination procedures. These frequencies have ideal signal propagation characteristics and the Commission could use financial incentives—unavailable in most nations—to expedite “repacking” by incumbent broadcasters willing to move, share or abandon spectrum in exchange for ample financial compensation. However, the FCC has continued to auction off 5G spectrum on grounds that it must find ways to abate an acute shortage of wireless bandwidth and doing so will regain or maintain global leadership in wireless technologies. This paper offers a critical rebuke to unilateral spectrum management, because the short-term benefits expected by the U. S. government likely will be offset by countervailing harms to 5G manufacturers, carriers and consumers. The paper tracks fractious preparation for the ITU's 2019 World Radio Conference by the U.S. delegation and the mixed record achieved there. Additionally, the paper explains how injecting trade, industrial policy and national security issues at the ITU can trigger more delays and disputes, including possible retaliation by nations displeased with U.S. efforts to subvert traditional technology optimization goals.A worst case scenario has the ITU deadlocked and unable to reach closure on “mission critical” spectrum planning issues at World Radio Conferences, convened every four years. The paper concludes that costs and likely challenges to the efficacy and legitimacy of the ITU will reduce the benefits accruing from the FCC's unilateral, spectrum planning campaign.     

Societal and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence: Critical notes on European policy frameworks

This paper offers a critical review on conditions and impacts of AI/ML in society, with a dedicated overview of the European AI policy framework. Through the analysis of policy papers produced by European institutions, European national governments and other organisations situated between research and policy-making, we bring an overarching outlook of key ethical and societal issues currently under discussion at the intersection of European policy agendas and recent literature on the topic. Our findings show that 21 analysed documents look both at individual and societal impacts, with their understanding generally aligned in calls for more responsibility, accountability, transparency, safety or trust. Furthermore, our findings also point to the necessity of more integrated approaches between governments, industry and academia stakeholders, and above all, to the need of applied multidisciplinary frameworks, supported by both anticipatory outlooks and public engagement exercises able to tackle the often excessive technicality of the debate.     

智能电网发展的机制及其对电网自动化技术的影响

从技术和机制的结合方面探讨智能电网与其之前的电网发展阶段的差异。以欧美智能电网研究和建设的现状为前提,讨论智能电网发展需要的机制和制度基础。讨论电力市场环境下智能电网的建设与发展及其对电网自动化技术带来的影响,认为电力市场提供的价格信号是电网自动化系统的新的增量信号,这将对电网自动化技术和智能电网技术产生十分显著和深刻的影响。并进一步讨论了智能电网的发展可能存在的潜在的技术和制度风险。     

Chinese industrial relations research: In search of a broader analytical framework and representation

The transformation of industrial relations (IR) in China over the last three decades has been (partially) captured by the growing number of scholarly studies in the English language literature. Despite the major contribution of these studies in advancing our understanding of contemporary IR in China and the (changing) roles of traditional institutional actors, significant research gaps remain. This review paper argues that research on Chinese IR needs to include a broader category of IR actors, including more categories of workers than the current focus, to examine the new role of traditional actors and the role of emerging actors in shaping the IR processes and outcomes, even if their role may be episodic and spatially confined. It also argues that Chinese IR research needs to embrace a wider range of disciplinary perspectives, for example cultural perspective and human resource management, to go beyond the radical-pluralist and structuralist approaches that have often been deployed. Equally, it argues that instead of focusing primarily on conflicts as IR issues for research, we should also examine forms of collectivism, sources of bargaining power, and scope for cooperation. Finally, this paper argues for a closer link between Chinese IR research and public policy.     

行业收入差距适度性测度研究——以浙江为例

本文界定了行业收入差距适度性的内涵,提出了具体的判断标准;从行业收入差距、经济社会协调发展(经济增长、资源配置效率、分配公平、社会稳定)多个方面构建了行业收入差距适度性评价指标体系;提出了行业收入差距适度性的测度方法;以1990—2010年统计数据为样本,对浙江行业收入差距适度性进行了测度与综合评价。研究结果表明:浙江行业收入差距总体上呈现出不断扩大的趋势;除了社会稳定评价指数出现先递增后递减的趋势外,经济增长、资源配置效率、分配公平、经济社会协调发展综合评价指数均呈现持续上升的线性趋势,这说明浙江经济社会协调发展态势良好;从静态适度性和动态适度性评价指数看,浙江行业收入差距各类适度性评价指数除个别年份出现不适度状态外,整体上均处于良好适度、协调发展的轨迹上。在此基础上提出了相应的政策建议。     

Impact of spectrum management policy on the penetration of 3G technology

Diffusion of 3G cellular technology varies widely across countries and regions. Past studies have shown that lower levels of diffusion of previous technologies and higher levels of income are significant factors in accelerating the take up of 1st and 2nd generation of mobile telephony. In addition, spectrum management policy plays a significant role in shaping 3G diffusion. Regulatory policies regarding spectrum management include mandating band and technology and decisions to hold spectrum auctions. An econometric analysis over a multi-country panel dataset shows that these spectrum management policies do have significant influence on the take-up of 3G. Findings suggest that the presence of multiple technologies for the previous generation is associated with rollout delay. The estimations indicate that countries that mandated a specific frequency band for 3G saw faster roll out, but in the long run those countries experienced a slower growth rate. Also estimations find that 3G diffusion is not significantly affected by the choice of auctions vs. alternative license award processes. Insights gained from this study of the 2G to 3G transition can provide guidance to regulators now contemplating the transition to newer generations.     

The moral hazard of Lax FCC land use oversight for advanced network infrastructure

This article discusses issues that arise when service providers place network equipment on publicly owned lands in the United States. Based on land use policy at the Federal Communications Commission, this paper theorizes that the use of public lands for 5G network development will create a moral hazard, as service providers may be tempted to take risks in the way they use public lands. Per economic theory the firm could behave recklessly when knowing that the costs will be borne by someone else – in this case local citizens. This is an example of the moral hazard problem in economics.     

A business case for 5G services in an industrial sea port area

5G is a technology that was designed to provide citizens with access to faster and innovative wireless services. While different technical aspects related to 5G have been extensively examined by researchers worldwide, a lack in the existing literature is the economics of 5G in terms of business cases of specific 5G use cases. In this article we analyse the business case for three 5G use cases in an industrial sea port area, the Hamburg port in Germany, over the period 2020–2030. The first use case is enhanced mobile broadband and the results show a payback period lower than one year for all the scenarios analysed. The second use case is automation of container handling in the port's container terminal. It was found that the payback period is also lower than one year with a positive business case net present value in all scenarios studied. The business case of the third case, augmented reality for construction projects in the port's area, is challenging as the payback period was 5 years for the baseline case. Moreover, when performing the sensitivity analysis, it was found that in several scenarios there was a negative return on investment, and it was not possible to recover the investment over the time period studied. It can be concluded that mobile network operators will need to be careful as not all new 5G service offerings may have a positive business case. Future research work should focus on studying other 5G use cases in the port area, and on examining other industrial areas beyond ports such as airports, science parks and manufacturing facilities.     

Institutional environment and complementary assets: Business strategy in China’s 3G development

This paper develops a framework to assess the influences of institutions and markets on the business strategy of firms in transition economies. We argue that regulatory systems and markets in transition economies are interdependent. Their changing conditions will interact and influence the types of partnerships in new market entry. Using a case study approach based on historical data and interviews, we show how China’s telecommunications industry evolved between 1987 and 2007, and led to the development of a 3G (third generation mobile telecommunications) standard and networks. Our analysis based on the framework explains how regulative elements and market conditions shape the strategic choices of partnerships between domestic and foreign firms when entering China’s 3G market.     

The effect of government 5G policies on telecommunication operators’ firm value: Evidence from China

To lead the world's fifth-generation mobile communication networks (5G) market, China introduced several policies to support 5G industry development that will impact telecommunication operators, the main implementers in this industry. Thus, this study examines the impact of the government's 5G policy announcements on telecommunication operators' firm value in China, where the state exerts a strong influence on industry development. We find that government policy announcement in general affects telecommunication operators' stock returns negatively, and when the government announces policies with a higher level of interference, the decline in firm value is more pronounced. To understand the comprehensive impact of 5G technology on telecommunication operators, we also examine the effect of institution-driven corporate technology R&D and investment activities on firm value. We find that the firms' 5G activities also decrease their firm value, and this effect is more significant than government policy announcements. These results imply that the market has a negative evaluation of the introduction of 5G technology due to its immaturity and uncertainty. This study provides a basis for understanding the market's views on 5G technology and development policies.     

Tackling the paradox: can attaining global research excellence be compatible with local technology development?

This paper uses the case of the IMEC (microelectronics research centre) to examine the compatibility between strategic IPR management of large independent research centres, and regional industrial policy missions given to such centres in return for government funding. In particular, the issue of whether a balance can be found between a necessary drive for international recognition and critical mass of funding, and a policy of IPR valorization towards regional firms is examined.
The first section sets out the mission of IMEC and the evolution over time of its strategic approach to building global industrial partnerships based on a sophisticated model of IPR management. Drawing on a recent evaluation, the subject of the second section is the extent to which the results of the industrial and exploratory research activities of IMEC are then commercialized in local Flemish industry.
The concluding section offers policy conclusions in terms of the instruments and objectives which public policy makers can apply to maximize the local impact of large globally operating research centres.     

模块化在制造企业知识管理战略设计中的应用--我国航空企业国际转包生产的模块化战略分析

本文提出制造业企业应用模块化方法进行战略性知识管理的概念和主要类别。特别针对航空机制造业企业分析模块化方法的适用形式和局限性。飞机制造是介于集成方式和分解方式之间的复杂产品制造体系 ,模块化知识管理有战略意义 ,但也有局限性。研究指出 ,模块化方法仅适用于允许“适度失控”的产品 ,对飞机及发动机等“禁止失控”的复杂产品类型 ,系统集成商会拥有相对高的技术和知识优势 ,而模块制造商的创新空间很小。表现在我国参与飞机转包生产的企业对国外企业的依赖程度高 ;根据实际调查和本文的分析 ,我国企业可以通过通用模块制造技术向专用模块制造技术的过渡 ,逐渐实现有自己知识产权的黑箱型技术资源