Financing and other issues in telecommunications development

Implementation of telecommunications infrastructure throughout developing countries is a prerequisite to national development. The fundamental question, argues Dr Parker, is how can developing countries pay for the capital investment in the necessary telecommunications equipment. The need is to encourage an institutional structure that can stimulate innovative, lower-cost appropriate rural telecommunications technologies without imposing excessive risks on the national telecommunications monopoly. With sucessful models to follow, it will be easier to achieve consensus between developing country borrowers, international lenders and telecommunications manufacturers.     

Aspects of innovation: Public policy issues in telecommunications development

The author considers the potential for innovation in various telecommunication technologies. Unfamiliar concepts may be generated by the introduction of a new technology, the uses of technology, abuses and their consequences, and cross-fertilisation with other fields. After discussing possible futures, he analyses the implications of a general model of change associated with the introduction of a major technology, and concludes by stressing the urgent need for research aimed at anticipating desirable and undesirable impacts.     

Competition in telecommunications

The author examines the impact of competition from both domestic and international perspectives. He provides a critique of the pro-competition argument, although a number of advantages of competition are also outlined. The advantages are discussed in relation to equipment and services. International trends towards competition are then described and the disadvantages of such trends are debated in relation to cross-subsidization, interconnection, the telecommunications manufacturing industry, and the market structure. Finally, competition in the international arena is discussed.     

Instructional telecommunications in Alaska

In May 1979, the Alaska State Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No 35 which directed the Legislative Council to conduct a feasibility study relating to educational television. This resolution was another major step in the efforts by the State of Alaska during the past decade to bring a wide range of educational and social services to its people, especially the 60 000 people that lie scattered across the state in some 258 small communities ranging in population from 25 to 3 000.     

Interactive telecommunications

A note on the development, scope and aims of a new degree course in telecommunications at the Schools of the Arts of New York University.     

National telecommunications planning in Brazil

During the past 15 years Brazil has undergone a process of rapid modernization in its telecommunications. Starting from a chaotic situation, institutional foundations were established and an ambitious development programme carried out. A fundamental piece of this programme was a planning process that proved to be flexible and adequate to handle the social and economic disparities of the country. The policies that have emerged from the planning process were implemented and provided good economic results and satisfaction to customers.     

The implementation of advanced telecommunications and services in the Greek academic and research environment: main issues and results

Efforts for the introduction within the Greek academic–research domain of telecommunication infrastructures based on international standards date back to the early 1980s. Today, the focus is on the deployment of high-performance networks capable of supporting advanced telematic applications such as distance learning, teletraining, and telemedicine. Recent efforts aimed at the implementation of advanced telecommunications and telematic services considered important for Greece are examined in this paper. These efforts are within the framework of activities for the realization of the European information superhighway. It is concluded that the benefits obtained to date for the academic and research community in Greece are significant; further, the experience obtained is expected to produce, in the course of time, multiplicative benefits across wider sections of the Greek society.     

Standard setting in international telecommunications

A brief overview of the historical development of the telephone is given, emphasizing the importance of timely standards for technique, services and operation. The introduction of new technology and changing national policies in the provision of telecommunication services call even more for standardization at both the national and international level. Compatibility is a crucial factor in telecommunications and should be achieved by appropriate design and not by adaptation of installed equipment. Finally, the authors describe the newly developed CCITT policy to reconcile the necessity of continuity in standard telecommunication services and innovation due to the inherent potential of new technology.     

NSF telecommunications program

Since 1973, the US National Science Foundation has supported research projects on selected topics dealing with telecommunications applications and policy. In a recent reorganization, the Telecommunications Program became part of the Division of Applied Research, which accepts unsolicited proposals and can support work with immediate or long-range application potential.     

Excess capacity in international telecommunications

International telecommunications facilities—both satellite and cable circuits—in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins are characterized by persistent excess capacity. Although some excess is desirable to provide flexibility and protection against system failure, the problem is so great that Intelsat has 100 satellite transponders deemed surplus to international requirements. However, plans are under way for continued expansion of cable and satellite capacity. This article examines why telecommunications organizations are investing in such a seemingly wasteful manner. Three possible explanations are explored: (a) over-optimistic traffic forecasts, (b) market structure and regulatory policy, and (c) inefficient pricing of circuits.     

A telecommunications taxonomy

With the advent of new technologies and recent changes in regulations and economies, telecommunications services have grown chaotically. This article describes a taxonomy which uses common terms and concepts to classify the services and features available in telecommunications systems, for planners and policy makers. The structure provides a common basis for Europeans in particular to discuss the formation of new broadband telecommunications networks. It can also be used to identify areas of R&D and to plan future services. As an example, the authors apply the taxonomy to suggest the kinds of elements, properties and rules which might form the basis of a taxonomy knowledge base in telecommunications systems.     

Household telecommunications expenditure in Australia

Using a mix of survey data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey and the Household Expenditure Survey, we examine the changing nature of telecommunications expenditure in Australia in the period 2006–2015. We show that it behaves like a core necessity such as food. Households with youth or young adults spend more on telecommunications than other households. The elderly and disadvantaged groups spend less. We propose measures to identify low-income households with relatively high or relatively low expenditure on telecommunications. These measures can be used to identify households that potentially have “telecommunications inadequacy” or “unsustainable telecommunications expenditure”.     

The African telecommunications union: A Pan-African approach to telecommunications reform

This article examines the organisational structure and strategic plans of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). Although the ATU has been restructured to include private telecommunications entities as associate members, it remains essentially an inter-governmental agency. The article assesses the benefits of a regional approach to telecommunications reform and proposes that regional economic organisations replace the nation states as members of the ATU. Although the goals of the ATU, as articulated in its strategic plans are laudable, clearly defined benchmarks and specific strategies to achieve them are needed to make the organisation more effective.     

Recent developments in US wireline telecommunications

This article presents a selective survey of several recent developments in the US market for wireline telecommunications services spanning the 2003–2005 period. Specifically, the article discusses the recent decline in overall telephone penetration rates, the substitution between wireline and wireless telephony, intermodal competition issues raised in the context of the FCCs review of the Cingular/AT&T Wireless merger, and the potentially anticompetitive effects of incumbent local exchange carrier tying of voice and DSL service. The article identifies several areas for future research motivated by each one of these developments.     

Israeli cellular telecommunications policy

Recent research has emphasized the role of regulatory measures in the adoption of new technologies, specifically mobile telephony. This study describes in detail the three phases of cellular licensing in Israel. It surveys policy changes and questions their contribution to the public interest, while discussing their underlying objectives. It reveals a pattern by which Israeli regulatory policy has shifted from a public interest focus to a government interest/corporate interest focus.     

Predatory pricing and foreclosure in telecommunications

The growing worldwide trend towards deregulation in the telecommunications industry is raising concerns about anticompetitive behaviour by the dominant carriers. This article reviews some of these concerns and gives examples of alleged anticompetitive behaviour by Canadian carriers. The author assesses the conditions under which predatory activities and foreclosure are likely to occur, and concludes that they may be made even more likely by regulation. He offers an evaluation of some alternative policy approaches.