Universal Service and Postal Monopoly in Other Countries
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Study on Universal Postal Service and the Postal Monopoly Appendix E Universal Service and Postal Monopoly in Other Countries Alex Kalevi Dieke Antonia Niederpruem James I. Campbell UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND POSTAL MONOPOLY IN OTHER COUNTRIES 2 Contents 1 Summary................................................................................................................ 6 2 Introduction......................................................................................................... 17 3 European Union .................................................................................................. 18 3.1 Introduction to postal policy in the European Union ................................... 18 3.2 Universal service policies............................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Universal service obligation..................................................................... 20 3.2.2 Scope of universal services....................................................................... 20 3.2.3 Uniform tariff requirements...................................................................... 21 3.2.4 Access requirements ................................................................................. 21 3.2.5 Delivery requirements............................................................................... 22 3.2.6 Quality of service...................................................................................... 22 3.3 Monopoly policies......................................................................................... 22 3.4 Effectiveness of eliminating the legal monopoly........................................... 23 3.4.1 Universal service provision.......................................................................23 3.4.2 Competition............................................................................................... 24 3.4.3 Impact of market opening on universal service ........................................ 25 4 United Kingdom.................................................................................................. 27 4.1 Introduction to postal policy in the United Kingdom ................................... 27 4.2 Universal service policies............................................................................. 28 4.2.1 Responsibility to ensure universal service................................................ 28 4.2.2 Scope of universal services....................................................................... 28 4.2.3 Uniform tariff requirements...................................................................... 29 4.2.4 Access requirements ................................................................................. 29 4.2.5 Delivery requirements............................................................................... 30 4.2.6 Quality of service...................................................................................... 30 4.3 Monopoly policies......................................................................................... 31 4.3.1 Termination of the postal monopoly......................................................... 31 4.3.2 Introduction of upstream competition....................................................... 32 4.4 Effectiveness of eliminating the legal monopoly........................................... 33 4.4.1 Universal service provision.......................................................................34 4.4.1.1 Access conditions.............................................................................. 34 4.4.1.2 Delivery conditions........................................................................... 34 4.4.1.3 Quality of service.............................................................................. 35 4.4.2 Competition............................................................................................... 35 4.4.3 Tariffs........................................................................................................ 37 4.4.4 Profitability of the public postal operator ................................................. 38 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2008 UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND POSTAL MONOPOLY IN OTHER COUNTRIES 3 4.4.5 Impact of market opening on universal service ........................................ 40 5 Germany .............................................................................................................. 43 5.1 Introduction to postal policy in Germany..................................................... 43 5.2 Universal service policies............................................................................. 44 5.2.1 Responsibility to ensure universal service................................................ 44 5.2.2 Scope of universal services....................................................................... 45 5.2.3 Uniform tariff requirements...................................................................... 45 5.2.4 Access requirements ................................................................................. 46 5.2.5 Delivery requirements............................................................................... 46 5.2.6 Quality of service...................................................................................... 46 5.3 Monopoly policies......................................................................................... 47 5.4 Effectiveness of eliminating the legal monopoly........................................... 48 5.4.1 Universal service provision.......................................................................48 5.4.1.1 Access conditions.............................................................................. 48 5.4.1.2 Delivery conditions........................................................................... 49 5.4.1.3 Quality of service.............................................................................. 49 5.4.2 Competition............................................................................................... 49 5.4.3 Tariffs........................................................................................................ 51 5.4.4 Profitability of the formerly public postal operator .................................. 51 5.4.5 Impact of market opening on universal service ........................................ 54 6 Sweden ................................................................................................................. 55 6.1 Introduction to postal policy in Sweden........................................................ 55 6.2 Universal service policies............................................................................. 55 6.2.1 Responsibility to ensure universal service................................................ 55 6.2.2 Scope of universal services....................................................................... 56 6.2.3 Uniform tariff requirements...................................................................... 56 6.2.4 Access requirements ................................................................................. 56 6.2.5 Delivery requirements............................................................................... 57 6.2.6 Quality of service...................................................................................... 57 6.3 Monopoly policies......................................................................................... 57 6.4 Effectiveness of eliminating the legal monopoly........................................... 58 6.4.1 Universal service provision.......................................................................58 6.4.1.1 Access conditions.............................................................................. 58 6.4.1.2 Delivery conditions........................................................................... 59 6.4.1.3 Quality of service.............................................................................. 59 6.4.2 Competition............................................................................................... 59 6.4.3 Tariffs........................................................................................................ 61 6.4.4 Profitability of the public postal operator ................................................. 63 6.4.5 Impact of market opening on universal service ........................................ 65 7 The Netherlands.................................................................................................. 67 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2008 UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND POSTAL MONOPOLY IN OTHER COUNTRIES 4 7.1 Introduction to postal policy in the Netherlands .......................................... 67 7.2 Universal service policies............................................................................. 68 7.2.1 Responsibility to ensure universal service................................................ 68 7.2.2 Scope of universal services....................................................................... 68 7.2.3 Uniform tariff requirements...................................................................... 69 7.2.4 Access requirements ................................................................................. 69 7.2.5 Delivery requirements............................................................................... 69 7.2.6 Quality of service...................................................................................... 70 7.3 Monopoly policies........................................................................................