Mudanças na estrutura do mercado de telecomunicações brasileiro após a privatização e o papel da agência reguladora (1980 – 2017)

Abstract

This research aims to describe and analyze the changes that occurred in the structure of the telecommunications market from 1980 to 2017, presenting the role of the regulatory agency in this process. In order to elucidate the ways in which imperfect markets are formed, a theoretical framework based on the neoclassical approach on monopolies, oligopolies and perfect competition will be used, as well as capture theory approaches on the capture process that occur on regulators and how regulation occurs in markets. The telecommunications sector initially formulated as a monopoly, where the public company, Embratel, provided services in the sector. After the Brazilian economic opening process, which took place in the 1990s, the telecommunications sector went through a privatization process. With regard to the organization of the sector, there is a structural transformation from monopoly to a system of regulated competition. However, despite the entry of new companies in the sector, there is a high market concentration among few firms. Such structural change in the sector, made necessary the emergence of regulatory measures of the same - as the creation of the National Telecommunications Agency. In view of this, the present research sought to analyze, through theoretical elements based on the formation of market structures and the characterization of regulatory agencies, whether the privatization of the sector generated greater productive efficiency - regarding the supply and quality of services - and how fundamental it is. It has been the regulation of the sector by the state in promoting possible improvements. Considering the effective increase in the offer of telecommunication services, in addition to the large increase in investments and improvement in infrastructure, the present research may indicate that the privatization process brought improvements in the offer of services. However, regarding the role of the regulatory agency, a reorganization of the agency is necessary in order to guarantee the necessary autonomy to formulate the regulatory policies and the necessary.