THE VARIOUS AGENT'S ROLES IN INTERCONNECTION PROCESSES : THE STUDY OF SEVERAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORKS

Among all factors favourizing interconnectivity, the willingness of the whole actors concerned cannot be considered as the less important one. If technical constraints are in general surmountable, commercial, strategic and economic issues seem to be more determinant (Gille, 1992). First of all, there must be either a convergence of interests, or a strong political willingness imposed to network operators. In all cases, processes are quite complex. Moreover, the interconnected "product" can have various forms, from the minimal option (only connection) to the autonomous operator of interconnected services, who maximizes interconnection effects (size effects, economic optimization). It can become more and more complex, as fast as can be modified, either by operators themselves, or by external actants (more regulation, deregulation, dismemberment, etc.) This paper aims to propose a typology of interconnected networks ways of management, in comparison with the system of actors that made the interconnection feasible, and with their possible evolution.