Un nombre important d'outils d'expérimentation permettent aujourd'hui l'étude de problématiques pour les réseaux fixes et mobiles multi sauts. En s'appuyant sur un état de l'art faisant état des différentes fonctionnalités et caractéristiques propres aux outils et méthodes d'expérimentation les plus couramment utilisés, cette thèse vise à évaluer des outils d'expérimentations innovants. Concernant l'étude des réseaux fixes, nous proposons VIRCONEL, un outil permettant la définition de topologies réseaux virtuelles ainsi que la réalisation de scénario dans des conditions réalistes. Pour l'étude des réseaux mobiles multi sauts, nous proposons tout d'abord SILUMOD, un langage qui permet de définir aisément à l'aide de mots clés et d'opérateurs spécifiques les caractéristiques du mouvement d'un nœud mobile. Nous proposons ensuite VIRMANEL, un outil permettant la gestion des connexions entre des nœuds mobiles multi sauts représentés par des machines virtuelles, à l'aide d'un algorithme optimisant la mise à jour des liens effectifs entre ces nœuds mobiles. En associant SILUMOD et VIRMANEL, nous obtenons ainsi un outil capable de simuler les déplacements d'un nœud mobile tout en évaluant et établissant les connections potentielles entre ces nœuds mobiles. Les évaluations de ces outils montrent que si la virtualisation est effectivement un outil pertinent et utile pour l’expérimentation des réseaux, elle a aussi ses limites et le réalisme des résultats dépend des conditions d’expérimentation. Nous discutons de cette problématique et proposons, à l’issue de cette thèse, quelques critères permettant d’évaluer le degré de confiance à accorder à un résultat. / A significant number of experimental tools now allow the study of problems for fixed and mobile multi -hop networks. Based on a state of the art reporting different features and characteristics specific to different testing methods, this thesis aims to provide some assessment of these innovative experiments tools. Concerning the study of fixed networks , we propose and evaluate VIRCONEL , a tool for the definition of virtual network topologies as well as the realization of scenario under realistic conditions. For the study of mobile multi-hop networks , we first propose SILUMOD , a language that allows using specific keywords and operators to easily define characteristics of the movement of a mobile node. We then propose VIRMANEL , a tool for managing connections between mobile nodes represented by virtual machines, using an algorithm optimizing the update of effective links between mobile nodes. By combining SILUMOD and VIRMANEL , we obtain a tool to simulate the movement of a mobile node while evaluating and establishing potential connections between mobile nodes. Evaluations of these tools show that if virtualization is indeed a relevant and useful tool for network experiments , it also has its limitations and the realism of results depends on experimental conditions. We discuss this problem and propose at the end of this thesis , some criteria for assessing the degree of trust to give a result.

This paper looks at the effects of different forms of wholesale and retail regulation on retail competition in fixed network telephony markets. We explicitly model two asymmetries between the incumbent operator and two entrants: (i) While the incumbent has zero marginal costs, the entrant has the wholesale access charge as (positive) marginal costs; (ii) While the incumbent is setting a two-part tariff at the retail level (fixed fee and calls price), the entrant can only set a linear price for calls. We model the product of the incumbent as horizontally differentiated from the products of the entrants who are homogenous and do not have any market power. Competition from other infrastructures such as mobile telephony or cable is modelled as an "outside opportunity" for consumers. We find that entrants without market power might be subject to a margin squeeze if the wholesale access price is set at average costs and competitive pressure from other infrastructures increases. Product differentiation, however, prevents market foreclosure. We argue that a wholesale price regulation at average costs is not optimal in such a situation and discuss retail-minus and deregulation as potential alternatives. (author's abstract) / Series: Working Papers / Research Institute for Regulatory Economics

We estimate own-price elasticities for fixed network voice telephony access and (national) calls services for private users and cross-price elasticities to mobile using time series data from 2002-2007 from the Austrian market. Using instrumental variable estimates and taking into account the possibility of cointegration we find that access is inelastic while calls are elastic. We conclude that the retail market for national calls of private users can probably be deregulated due to sufficient competitive pressure from mobile. Access-substitution on the other hand does not seem to be strong enough to justify de-regulation. / Series: Working Papers / Research Institute for Regulatory Economics