funding even if they are not necessarily the best-equipped commercial operators. This may dissuade private-sector investment in broadband infrastructure.• Market structure and regulatory effectiveness: A market where a dominant operator is not required to provide wholesale, non-discriminatory open access to its network may see delayed broadband development or unnecessary duplication of broadband infrastructure. Governments and regulators should consider these aspects in the implementation and design of their national broadband plans.1.4.2 Development of broadband targets Another factor that often influences the implementation of broadband projects relates to how governments and regulators develop their broadband targets and their understanding of the costs and funding requirements to support those investments. Many managing authorities, particularly in developing markets, have developed broadband targets that are simply too aggressive, given current levels of network investment and the relatively low levels of Internet maturity in those economies.Well-defined and realistic broadband targets will enable a better understanding of the range of technologies required to meet those targets and a more accurate prediction of deployment costs. Knowing the costs then allows managing authorities to establish the funding needs and operators can then set their investment requirements. In some cases, this can be an iterative process, in which targets are revised until an optimum balance is achieved between optimal speed and coverage targets and the availability of funding.Governments, therefore, can adopt the following principles in defining their broadband targets:• Targets should be defined progressively to increase in accordance with market trends for the next ten years. The targets should define the broadband speed and coverage (by number of business and residential premises) targets over that period. • Targets need to distinguish between rural and urban areas. It is more likely that urban areas will require higher-speed services than rural areas, but greater funding will be required in rural areas.• Targets need to be realistic and achievable rather than being over-optimistic and over-ambitious. Otherwise, authorities will not be able to gauge the real success of the broadband project.Coverage targets can be included in mobile spectrum licences or in fixed network licences, so investors need to undertake a detailed assessment of the targets in order to determine the cost of acheiving them. Investors also need to assess whether coverage targets are even achievable so they don’t commit to a project that cannot be delivered successfully.1.4.3 Open access networks Open access networks are another vital aspect of implementing broadband projects, particularly in promoting competiveness and fairness and, ultimately, in reducing duplicative infrastructure. The mandate to open access to networks can ensure that operators have effective, non-discriminatory and transparent access to wholesale networks. The concept of \"open access\" has two dimensions: an operational one and a technical one. At the operational level, access must be:• Effective – it should provide the access services requested without undue burdens such as onerous processes or overheads;• Transparent – it should be clear how to use the access services, and they must be provided efficiently; and • Non-discriminatory – It should be possible to demonstrate – possibily through some level of separate management between wholesale and retail operations – that services are provided in a non-discriminatory way. There also should be a mechanism for recourse if non-price discrimination is suspected.20 Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016