No, physics and economics did. When you're talking about building infrastructure that will take 20 years to pay itself off _absent_ competition, only the most profitable of the profitable locations can afford extensive physical plant competition.

In communications networks monopolies are natural, especially in last mile networks, and will exist absent any government action. That in some cases some governments have mildly strengthened these monopolies in exchange for commitments to cover otherwise unprofitable areas, its not really that important this subject.

They have been a strong voice for less regulation, especially less regulation of technology. We reined in AT&T through regulation, forcing them to share their last-mile plant with others. We could (and should) have done the same with monopoly cable providers, but the anti-regulation fever in the US prevented that.