Abstract
“A holistic approach to broadband policy strategy is necessary in
developing countries in order to overcome the many obstacles to providing
universal access to affordable broadband services.” Daniel Jones,
Analyst; Martin Scott, Senior Analyst.
Broadband is now recognised to be a strategic priority by many developing and
emerging economies, as it is seen to be a driving force in the move towards a
knowledge-based economy. It is also a means to achieve social and economic
benefits in areas such as health and education.
In order to deliver these benefits, the broadband industry must be tailored to
the country' s needs. It will not always be commercially viable to provide
extensive coverage. Ministries and regulators responsible for broadband will
therefore need to consider making interventions to incentivise extension of
coverage, if this is a policy priority. Affordability of broadband services is
another area in which policy and regulation has a role to play in order to
ensure competitive pricing along the supply chain from international
connectivity to end-user service provision.
Creating successful broadband policies in developing countries identifies the
benefits of broadband Internet access for citizens, communities and businesses
in developing countries, and describes strategies by which regulators and
policymakers can help to advance these, using case studies of previously
successful policy implementations.
The report identifies actions that can help to overcome some of the key
challenges in stimulating widespread broadband coverage, ensuring
cost-oriented pricing and making broadband valuable to the end user. These
include incentivising private-sector investment, identifying the circumstances
that drive the need for specific regulatory intervention and implementing
programmes in areas such as IT literacy and egovernment services.
Creating successful broadband policies in developing countries answers your
key questions:
- What are the key benefits that broadband can bring to a developing country?
- What potential barriers are there to private investment in the broadband
industry and what policies can cost-effectively overcome these?
- How can a regulator reduce the risk for an investor considering entering
the broadband market?
- What are the potential bottlenecks in the supply chain that cause end
users to be charged high prices?
- How can spectrum policy be designed to encourage investment?
- How can regulators and policymakers increase the value of broadband to the
end user?
- What can be learned about broadband policy from the experience of other
countries?
- What is the best way to implement all the changes required?
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