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Hitting or Missing African UAS Objectives? An Evaluation of Universal Access and Service (UAS) Policy Guidelines for Developing Countries

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  • Brandie L. MARTIN

    (College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University)

Abstract

Most African countries have historically lagged in telecommunications development. Recent modifications to universal access and service (UAS) policies have helped develop an environment capable of unprecedented mobile telecommunications growth. The World Bank Information for Development Program (InfoDev) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) developed "The ICT Regulation Toolkit" (ICTRT) to serve as a "best practice" guide for ICT policymakers in developing countries. The ICTRT recommends that developing countries include roll-out obligations in telecommunications licenses, develop a UAS fund to manage subsidies needed for investment, develop commercial rather than UAS policy solutions, take advantage of new technological efficiencies to achieve UAS objectives, include social factors in the design of UAS policies, and align UAS objectives with national social programs to foster co-achievement of long-term development goals. By conducting a critical analysis of Uganda's adoption of the ICTRT "best practice" guidelines, this paper contextualizes the impacts of policy transfer. The paper concludes with supply and demand-side UAS objectives that should be incorporated into the ICTRT.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandie L. MARTIN, 2012. "Hitting or Missing African UAS Objectives? An Evaluation of Universal Access and Service (UAS) Policy Guidelines for Developing Countries," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(86), pages 121-141, 2nd quart.
    • Handle: RePEc:idt:journl:cs8606
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lars-Hendrik Roller & Leonard Waverman, 2001. "Telecommunications Infrastructure and Economic Development: A Simultaneous Approach," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(4), pages 909-923, September.
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    3. Isabel Neto & Michael L. Best & Sharon E. Gillett, 2005. "License-Exempt Wireless Policy: Results of an African Survey," Information Technologies and International Development, MIT Press, vol. 2(3), pages 73-90.
    4. Yongsoo Kim & Tim Kelly & Siddhartha Raja, 2010. "Building Broadband : Strategies and Policies for the Developing World," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2469.
    5. Calvin Djiofack-Zebaze & Alexander Keck, 2009. "Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of WTO Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth," Post-Print hal-00387976, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    InfoDev/ITU ICT Regulation Toolkit; Mobile broadband; Mobile telecommunications; Universal access and service; Uganda; sub-Saharan Africa.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General

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