The Liberalisation Of The Telecommunications Sector In Sub Saharan Africa And Fostering Competition In Telecommunications Services Markets

Author : Rachel Alemu
Publisher : Springer
Page : 389 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2018-02-02
Category : Law
ISBN : 9783662553183

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The Liberalisation of the Telecommunications Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa and Fostering Competition in Telecommunications Services Markets by Rachel Alemu Pdf

This study investigates whether the existing regulatory framework governing the telecommunications sector in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa effectively deals with emerging competition-related concerns in the liberalised sector. Using Uganda as a case study, it analyses the relevant provisions of the law governing competition in the telecommunications sector, and presents three key findings: Firstly, while there is comprehensive legislation on interconnection and spectrum management, inefficient enforcement of the legislation has perpetuated concerns surrounding spectrum scarcity and interconnection. Secondly, the legislative framework governing anti-competitive behaviour, though in line with the established principles of competition law, is not sufficient. Specifically, the framework is not equipped to govern the conduct of multinational telecommunications groups that have a strong presence in the telecommunications sector. Major factors hampering efficient competition regulation include Uganda’s sole reliance on sector-specific competition rules, restricted available remedies, and a regulator with limited experience of enforcing competition legislation. The weaknesses in the framework strongly suggest the need to adopt an economy-wide competition law. Lastly, wireless technology is the main means through which the population in Uganda accesses telecommunications services. Greater emphasis should be placed on regulating conduct in the wireless communications markets.

Author : Vivien Foster,Cecilia Briceño-Garmendia
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 311 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2011-06-23
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9780821384541

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Africa's ICT Infrastructure by Vivien Foster,Cecilia Briceño-Garmendia Pdf

Africa's ICT Infrastructure reviews how the investment in the sector has been financed and how the structure of the market has changed since the liberalization process started. It looks at the role of both private and public institutions as sources of financing for the sector and charts the emergence of investors from developing countries in leading the expansion of the sector across the region. --

Author : Daniel D. Garcia-Swartz,Martin Campbell-Kelly
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 397 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2022-10-18
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780262370004

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Cellular by Daniel D. Garcia-Swartz,Martin Campbell-Kelly Pdf

Tracks the evolution of the international cellular industry from the late 1970s to the present. The development of the mobile-phone industry into what we know today required remarkable cooperation between companies, governments, and industrial sectors. Companies developing cellular infrastructure, cellular devices, cellular network services, and eventually software and mobile semiconductors had to cooperate, not simply compete, with each other. In this global history of the mobile-phone industry, Daniel D. Garcia-Swartz and Martin Campbell-Kelly examine its development in the United States, Europe, Japan, and several emerging economies, including China and India. They present the evolution of mobile phones from the perspective of vendors of telephone equipment and network operators, users whose lives have been transformed by mobile phones, and governments that have fostered specific mobile-phone standards. Cellular covers the technical aspects of the cellphone, as well as its social and political impact. Beginning with the 1980s, the authors trace the development of closed (proprietary) and open (available to all) cellular standards, the impact of network effects as cellular adoption increased, major technological changes affecting mobile phone hardware, and the role of national governments in shaping the industry. The authors also consider the changing roles that cellular phones have played in the everyday lives of people around the world and the implications 5G technology may have for the future. Finally, they offer statistics on how quickly the cellular industry grew in different regions of the world and how firms competed in those various markets. Cellular is published in the History of Computing Series. This distinguished series has played a major role in defining scholarship in the history of computing. Hallmarks of the series are its technical detail and interpretation of primary source materials.

Author : Mohammad A. Mustafa,Bruce Laidlaw,Mark Brand
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 94 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 1997-01-01
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 082133851X

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Telecommunications Policies for Sub-Saharan Africa by Mohammad A. Mustafa,Bruce Laidlaw,Mark Brand Pdf

World Bank Technical Paper No. 345. This report examines specific policies for achieving sustainable development of the mining industry in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The report highlights the importance of the mining sector to national economies of the region and discusses World Bank assistance in formulating policy. Also available in Spanish: (ISBN 0-8213-3942-7) Stock no. 13942.

Author : Atsushi Iimi
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 43 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Access to Markets
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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Price Structure and Network Externalities in the Telecommunications Industry by Atsushi Iimi Pdf

Many developing countries have experienced significant developments in their telecommunications network. Countries in Africa are no exception to this. The paper examines what factor facilitates most network expansion using micro data from 45 fixed-line and mobile telephone operators in 18 African countries. In theory the telecommunications sector has two sector-specific characteristics: network externalities and discriminatory pricing. It finds that many telephone operators in the region use peak and off-peak prices and termination-based price discrimination, but are less likely to rely on strategic fee schedules such as tie-in arrangements. The estimated demand function based on a discreet consumer choice model indicates that termination-based discriminatory pricing can facilitate network expansion. It also shows that the implied price-cost margins are significantly high. Thus, price liberalization could be conducive to development of the telecommunications network led by the private sector. Some countries in Africa are still imposing certain price restrictions. But more important, it remains a policy issue how the authorities should ensure reciprocal access between operators at reasonable cost.

Author : Seán Ó Siochrú,International Development Research Centre (Canada)
Publisher : IDRC
Page : 105 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : Telecommunication
ISBN : 9780889368095

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Telecommunications and Universal Service by Seán Ó Siochrú,International Development Research Centre (Canada) Pdf

Telecommunications and Universal Service: International experience in the context of South African policy reform

Author : Mark D. J. Williams
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 100 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2010-03-16
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 0821381733

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Broadband for Africa by Mark D. J. Williams Pdf

Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa see broadband ICT as an essential part of their long-term economic development strategy. Backbone networks are the high-capacity networks that lie at the heart of communications systems and allow the delivery of the high volumes of data needed for broadband. What high-capacity backbone networks that do exist in the region are typically limited to major urban areas and some inter-city routes. Competition between backbone networks is underdeveloped so the price of services remains high and quality is often poor. This pattern of network development is the result of high costs and regulatory restrictions on network development. Where countries have fully liberalized their telecommunications markets and promoted infrastructure competition, prices have fallen and quality improved. Backbone network policy should focus on promoting competition, reducing the cost of network construction and encouraging network development into currently underserved areas. Competition can be promoted by removing regulatory restrictions such as limits on the number of licenses and constraints on type of infrastructure and services that licensees can offer. The cost of backbone network development can be reduced by utilizing energy and transport infrastructure and reducing legal costs such as obtaining planning permission. Stimulating backbone network development beyond major urban areas can be achieved through establishing public-private partnerships to encourage operators to build networks into currently underserved areas.

Author : Frew Amare Gebreab,George R. G. Clarke,H. R. Mgombelo
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 64 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2003
Category : Telecommunication
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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Telecommunications Reform in Malawi by Frew Amare Gebreab,George R. G. Clarke,H. R. Mgombelo Pdf

In 1998 the Government of Malawi decided to reform its telecommunications sector. Although the reform was ambitious in some ways, it was modest when compared with the most ambitious reforms adopted elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. The two main accomplishments were splitting the incumbent fixed line monopoly, the Malawi Post and Telecommunications Corporation, into two companies-Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and Malawi Post Corporation (MPC)-and issuing two new cellular licenses to two new private entrants. In addition, the Government also established a new regulator which was separate from, but heavily dependent on, the Ministry of Information and liberalized entry in value-added and Internet services. However, the Government had neither privatized the fixed-line telecommunications operator nor introduced competition in fixed-line services by the end of 2002. Clarke, Gebreab, and Mgombelo discuss sector performance before reform, details of the reform, the political motivation for reform, and events in the five years following the reform. The reform yielded mixed results. Although cellular penetration and Internet use expanded dramatically following reform, prices increased, especially for cellular calls, and fixed-line penetration remains low by regional standards.

Author : Piet Buys
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 26 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Cell phones
ISBN : 9782008021218

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Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub- Saharan Africa by Piet Buys Pdf

Most discussions of the digital divide treat it as a "North-South" issue, but the conventional dichotomy doesn't apply to cell phones in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although almost all Sub-Saharan countries are poor by international standards, they exhibit great disparities in coverage by cell telephone systems. Buys, Dasgupta, Thomas and Wheeler investigate the determinants of these disparities with a spatially-disaggregated model that employs locational information for cell-phone towers across over 990,000 4.6-km grid squares in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using probit techniques, a probability model with adjustments for spatial autocorrelation has been estimated that relates the likelihood of cell-tower location within a grid square to potential market size (proximate population); installation and maintenance cost factors related to accessibility (elevation, slope, distance from a main road, distance from the nearest large city); and national competition policy. Probit estimates indicate strong, significant results for the supply-demand variables, and very strong results for the competition policy index. Simulations based on the econometric results suggest that a generalized improvement in competition policy to a level that currently characterizes the best-performing states in Sub-Saharan Africa could lead to huge improvements in cell-phone area coverage for many states currently with poor policy performance, and an overall coverage increase of nearly 100 percent.

Author : H. R. Mgombelo,Marcel C. M. Werner
Publisher : Penn State Press
Page : 272 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 1997
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 905199348X

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Telecommunication for Business in Africa by H. R. Mgombelo,Marcel C. M. Werner Pdf

Telecommunication for Business in Africa is a collection of studies on policy and regulation for the communications sector, as well as on telecommunication solutions and information services designed for economic actors in sub-Saharan Africa. This limitative angle on business solutions and services, which however impact strongly on economic performance, is the unique characteristic of this volume. The studies presented are based on original research across Africa and include detailed country case studies. Telecommunication for Business in Africa documents opportunities offered by today's communities of investors, systems integrators and concept designers, aiming to empower both small and large business and making Africa more competitive. Telecom Forum Africa (Kenya), the initiators of this publication, is a research and investment promotion organization.

Author : Arturo Muente-Kunigami,Juan Navas-Sabater
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 72 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2010-03-12
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 0821381431

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Options to Increase Access to Telecommunications Services in Rural and Low-Income Areas by Arturo Muente-Kunigami,Juan Navas-Sabater Pdf

Telecommunications sector policy-makers and regulators have a wide range of instruments available to them that can be used to increase access to telecommunications services in rural and low-income areas. The paper provides a review of these instruments, evaluating them against a set of criteria. It then goes on to identify a number of them that are worthy of further consideration by policy-makers and regulators while demonstrating that the effectiveness of the identified instruments can be greatly enhanced by the establishment of a conducive legal, regulatory and institutional framework. The paper concludes by confirming that while no single instrument taken in isolation can provide a full solution to universal access, a mix of the measures identified can be devised to achieve specific policy objectives in a particular country environment.

Author : Scott J. Wallsten
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 27 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Competition
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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An Empirical Analysis of competition, Privatization, and Regulation in telecommunications Market in Africa and Latin America by Scott J. Wallsten Pdf

Author : Jean-Paul Azam,Magueye Dia,Tchetche N'Guessan
Publisher : World Bank Publications
Page : 52 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Telecommunication
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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Telecommunications Sector Reforms in Senegal by Jean-Paul Azam,Magueye Dia,Tchetche N'Guessan Pdf

This paper analyzes Senegal's experience with telecommunications liberalization and privatization. Senegal privatized its incumbent operator in 1997, and granted the newly privatized firm seven years of fixed-line exclusivity while introducing "managed competition" in the cellular market and free competition in value-added services (VAS). By May 2001, two cellular operators, a number of VAS providers, and thousands of retailers operating telecenters had entered the market. Reform has thus significantly changed the landscape of Senegal's telecommunications sector and has brought with it tremendous improvement in sector performance. Between 1997 and 2001, fixed-line telephone penetration grew from 1.32 to 2.45 per hundred people, while mobile penetration skyrocketed from 0.08 to 4.04. But it is still too early to assess the validity of granting fixed-line exclusivity to the incumbent operator. While penetration increased, the operator did not meet objectives regarding rural telephony. Moreover, fixed-line penetration increased in areas where the operator faced competition from a mobile provider. This paper--a product of Regulation and Competition Policy, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to promote telecommunications competition, liberalization, and privatization in Africa.

Author : B. A. Kiplagat,Marcel C. M. Werner
Publisher : IOS Press
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 1994
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 905199169X

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Telecommunications and Development in Africa by B. A. Kiplagat,Marcel C. M. Werner Pdf

This publication views Africa in a global perspective, in economic, regulatory and technological terms. Arguments are offered for ensuring that Africa keeps pace with global technology as the rest of the world is gearing towards multimedia communications and the associated productivity gains.

Author : Eli M. Noam
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 315 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 1999-02-25
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780195356274

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Telecommunications in Africa by Eli M. Noam Pdf

A modern telecommunications network is an essential infrastructure for the world's developing nations. The emergence of new technologies, the entrance of supra-national carriers, and deregulation in the telecommunications sector have resulted in the globalization of telecommunications and the opening of markets on every continent. Collecting the work of 19 expert contributors, this book provides a comprehensive examination of what African countries are doing to build their telecommunications capabilities. Africa has historically lagged behind other regions in developing its telecommunications infrastructure, and the penetration rate for basic service is still relatively low. But as some African nations undergo restructuring, they have begun to open their networks to foreign investors and regional cooperative ventures to expand basic and advanced telecommunications services. The contributors discuss the uneven pace of economic, regulatory, and social change among African nations as state telecommunications monopolies maintain their hold in some countries and give way to privatization in others. Analyzing the political and economic changes of the 1990s, the contributors provide clues about how Africa can shake off decades of inertia and prepare to take part in the global information economy. Edited by an internationally recognized authority on telecommunications, this volume is the latest in a series that surveys telecommunications in the major regions of the world. Thorough and accessible, it is a valuable resource for students and scholars in the areas of communications, economics, regulatory law, telecommunications engineering, and African studies, as well as telecommunications professionals and policy makers.