The split between systems and services: real liberalization

Until a few years ago, "bits" were used instead of "analog signals" in the content production facilities, for the purpose of providing more flexibility and high quality economically, and to create and store information. The prospects widened considerably when employing digital technology to transport signals from the "emission center" to the end user. Once the backbone's trunks are digital, a company running a network, today, for a specific sector, will find itself able to be a "carrier" for a multitude of different services, ranging from radio and TV to telephony and multimedia. The merger of the two traditional "information" distribution methods, broadcast and telecommunication networks, is moving towards a "horizontal separation" at two different levels; the "service level" and the "system level". In this new and quickly evolving scenario, the legislative framework, which remains out of reach any technological aspect, has a key role.