Corporate strategies in the telecommunications sector in an environment of continuing liberalization

The article refers to the interplay between deregulation resp. liberalization of the telecommunications sector and the market behaviour of TC-firms. In the past monopolization of the sector left the PTTs in a comfortable national monopolistic situation, but substantially confined their scope of action on the international level. So the internationalization strategies of TC-firms played an essential part in realizing the process of deregulation – besides technological developments and the globalization of demand. Though the new deregulated framework has boosted expansion into new markets, in most countries there still remain some relics of public influence hindering market access on national and international level and impeding the firms´ strategies. The article analyses the main developments of the market behaviour of TC firms, using the new chances and defying the remaining deficiencies of the regulatory system. Finally it raises the question if the emerged market structure, characterized by high and still increasing concentration of power, requires or might in the near future require some correction of the rules.