Since the end of the 1980s, the increasing globalisation of corporate activities (in both the manufacturing and service sectors) in OECD Member countries has spilled over into the telecommunication sector, thus creating fundamental changes in the paradigm of international telecommunication...

In many OECD countries, a primary longer term issue is how to provide universal service in the new competitive environment where voice is ubiquitous and cheap, voice revenues low and where voice has become just one of many applications provided on networks.

Governments often regulate prices for public utilities. As telecommunication services markets have been opened to competition, new ways had to be found to regulate prices of the former monopoly carriers.