Title: Convergence in Information and Communication Technology: Strategic and Regulatory Considerations
Authors: Rajendra Singh, Siddhartha Raja
Pages: 136 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-8213-8169-4
e-ISBN: 978-0-8213-8171-7
Publisher: The World Bank
Date (published): February 2010
Date (accessed): 08/03/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (Flash)
Abstract:
Growth in the information and technology (ICT) sector has exploded over the past 20 years. Dynamic market and technology developments have led to a phenomenon known as convergence, defined in this volume as the erosion of boundaries between previously separate ICT services, networks, and business practices. Examples include cable television networks that offer phone service, Internet television, and mergers between media and telecommunications firms.

The results are exciting and hold significant promise for developing countries, which can benefit from expanded access, greater competition, and increased investments. However, convergence in ICT is challenging traditional policy and regulatory frameworks. With convergence occurring in countries across the spectrum of economic development, it is critical that policy makers and regulators understand it and respond in ways that maximize the benefits while mitigating the risks.

This volume analyzes the strategic and regulatory dimensions of convergence. It offers policy makers and regulators examples from countries around the world as they address this phenomenon. The authors suggest that countries that enable convergence are likely to reap the greater rewards. But the precise nature of the response will differ by country. Hence, this book offers global principles that should be tailored to local circumstances as regulatory frameworks evolve to address convergence.

Title: Using ICT research to assist policy making and regulation: the case of Namibia
Authors: Christoph Stork, Tony Vetter
Pages: 14 pp.
Source: CPRsouth
Date (published): 15/12/2009
Date (accessed): 21/12/2009
Type of information: conference paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This paper examines three barriers to effective policy-making and regulation in developing countries: inefficient operators; information asymmetry between regulator and operators; and where the role of the regulator to balance the interests of consumers, competing enterprises and investors is not being fulfilled. The paper demonstrates how ICT research of Research ICT Africa in combination with multiple communication strategies have been used to assist regulators and policy makers in making informed decisions and led to market liberalization and legislative and regulatory reform in Namibia. A presentation on research
results to the Namibian president and cabinet in 2006, private sector co-funding of research projects, over 80 newspaper articles covering research results, 21 magazine articles, six target policy briefs, radio and TV interviews, face to face consultations all helped shaping public opinion and informing policy makers and regulators. This paper describes how ICT research was translated into useful information and advice for policy makers and regulators by working with journalists, providing strategic information to the private sector, researching issues for the regulator and maintaining impartiality.

See also:
Presentation pdf

Title: Regionalizing telecommunications reform in West Africa
Authors: Ioannis N. Kessides, Roger G. Noll, Nancy C. Benjamin
Pages: 105 pp.
Source: Policy Research working paper, no. WPS 5126
Publisher: The World Bank Group
Date (published): 11/11/2009
Date (accessed): 11/11/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
In recent years, there has been an increasing recognition that significant welfare gains could be realized through deep forms of regional integration which entail harmonization of legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks. Reforms that reduce cross-border transaction costs and improve the performance of "backbone" infrastructure services are arguably even more important for the creation of an open, unified regional economic space than trade policy reforms narrowly defined. This paper assesses the potential gains from regionalized telecommunications policy in West Africa. To this end, the paper: (i) discusses how regional cooperation can overcome national limits in technical expertise, enhance the capacity of nations credibly to commit to stable regulatory policy, and ultimately facilitate infrastructure investment in the region; (ii) identifies trade-distorting regulations that inhibit opportunities for regional trade and economic development, and so are good candidates for regional trade negotiations to reduce indirect trade barriers; and (iii) describes substantive elements of a harmonized regional regulatory policy that can deliver immediate performance benefits.

Title: Regulatory Issues Around Mobile Banking: New initiatives to bank the poor are straining the world’s financial regulatory systems.
Author: Paul Makin
Pages: 14 pp.
Source: Workshop on “Policy coherence in the application of information and communication technologies for development"
Publisher: OECD, World Bank
Date (published): 01/09/2009
Date (accessed): 05/10/2009
Type of information: conference paper, draft
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that in Africa there are 300 million reachable adults with no current access to formal financial services, and there are a variety of mobile services springing up to address their needs. Rather than true mobile
banking, most of these initiatives offer a subset of banking, though with the aim of evolving towards full banking services in the future, and are variously known as “branchless banking”, “2G (second generation) banking”, “mobile payments”, “mobile money transfer” or “mobile banking” – which term is used depends on the audience...
Many of the mobile initiatives are partially – in some cases wholly – led by non-bank organisations that are traditionally outside the scope of financial regulation, and with whom the financial regulator has traditionally had little or no contact. This has naturally led to concern amongst regulators, and, for good or bad, threatens to disrupt the regulation of the financial sector in many of these countries.

Report for Joint Workshop on “Policy coherence in the application of information and communication technologies for development,” organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Information for Development Program (infoDev), World Bank, 10-11 September 2009, Paris, France

Title: Mobile Telephony Access and Usage in Africa
Authors: Augustin Chabossou, Christoph Stork, Matthias Stork, Pam Zahonogo
Pages: 25 pp.
Source: The Southern African Journal of Information and Communication, Issue 9
Publisher: Learning Information Networking and Knowledge (LINK) Centre, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Wits University
Date (published): 02/04/2009
Date (accessed): 05/10/2009
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
This paper uses data from nationally representative household surveys conducted in 17 African countries to analyse mobile adoption and usage. The paper shows that countries differ in their levels of ICT adoption and usage and also in factors that influence adoption and usage. Income and education vastly enhance mobile adoption but gender, age and membership of social networks have little impact. Income is the main explanatory variable for usage. In terms of mobile expenditure the study also finds linkages to fixed-line, work and public phone usages. These linkages need, however, to be explored in more detail in future. Mobile expenditure is inelastic with respect to income, ie the proportion of mobile expenditure to individual income increases less than 1% for each 1% increase in income. This indicates that people with higher income spend a smaller proportion of their income on mobile expenditure compared to those with less income.

The study provides tools to identify policy intervention to improve ICT take-up and usage and defines universal service obligations based on income and monthly usage costs. It helps to put a number to what can be expected from lower access and usage costs in
terms of market volume and number of new subscribers. Linking this to other economic data such as national household income and expenditure surveys and GDP calculation would allow forecast of the economic and social impact of policy interventions. Key policy interventions would be regulatory measures to decrease access and usage costs, rural electrification and policies to increase ICT skills of pupils and teachers.

Title: Broadband policy: Beyond privatization, competition and independent regulation
Author: Larry Press
ISSN: 1396-0466
e-ISSN 1396-0458
Source: First Monday, Volume 14 Number 4, April 2009
Publisher: University of Illinois at Chicago, University Library
Date (published): 18/03/2009
Date (accessed): 04/10/2009
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
During the last 25 years, telecommunication has moved away from government-owned or regulated monopolies toward privatization with competition and oversight by independent regulatory agencies – PCR policies. We present data indicating that PCR has had little impact on the Internet during the last ten years in developed or developing nations, and discuss the reasons for this. We then describe several ways government can go beyond PCR, while balancing needs for next generation technology, decentralized infrastructure ownership, and immediate economic stimulus. We conclude that there is a need for alternatives to the expedient action of subsidizing the current Internet service providers with their demonstrated anti-competitive bent. The decisions we make today will shape telecommunication infrastructure and the industry for decades.

Title: World Bank Board Approves US$ 151 Million to Extend Affordable Communications Services to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania
Source: World Bank
Publisher: World Bank
Date published: 25/06/2009
Date accessed: 03/07/2009
Type of information: news release
Language: English
On-line access: Yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$151 million to extend access to affordable communications services to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. This is the third phase of the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) – a US$424 million regional program that will increase the availability of reliable communications services for citizens, businesses and governments in Eastern and Southern Africa. Under RCIP 3, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania will receive US$20 million, US$31 million and US$100 million respectively.

Title: Digital Poverty: Latin American and Caribbean Perspectives
Author: Hernan Galperin and Judith Mariscal (editors)
Pages: 160 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-85339-663-2
e-ISBN 978-1-55250-342-3
Publisher: Practical Action Publishing IDRC
Date published: 2007
Date accessed: 16/06/2009
Type of information: research publication
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
This book examines the problem of inadequate access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the need to develop appropriate pro-poor ICT policies within the Latin American and Caribbean context. The authors show how market reforms have failed to ensure that the benefits of the Information Society have spread across the many social and economic divides that characterize the region.

The authors explain and support the formulation of a new perspective on ICT access and develop an analytical framework with which to assess the critical variables involved in effective ICT adoption in developing regions. The research supports policy reform that builds upon the achievements of market liberalization efforts in the region but which must also address the realities of ‘digital poverty’ – a concept that grasps the multiple dimensions of inadequate levels of access to ICT services by people and organizations, as well as the barriers to their productive use.

This is the first publication of the Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI), a regional network of leading researchers concerned with disseminating knowledge that supports the participation of marginalized communities using ICTs in Latin America and the Caribbean. The book will be of interest to anyone interested in ICTs and international development policy and practice.

The Editors

Hernan Galperin is Assistant Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California (USA) and Research Associate at the Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina). Dr Galperin is also affiliated with the Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research (UK) and the Edelstein Center for Social Research (Brazil). His research and teaching focus on the international governance and impact of new information and communication technologies.

Judith Mariscal has extensive research experience in Information and Communications Technologies focusing on public policy and regulatory issues. She is currently a professor of the Public Administration Department at the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), an independent research and educational institution based in Mexico City. She has authored numerous articles on telecommunications policy and regulation, and the book Unfinished Business: Telecommunications Reform in Mexico (Praeger Press, 2002).

Title: ICT Infrastructure in Emerging Asia: Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks
Author: Rohan Samarajiva and Ayesha Zainudeen (editors)
Pages: 320 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-7619-3673-2
e-ISBN 978-1-55250-378-2
Publisher: Sage India, IDRC
Date published: 2008
Date accessed: 16/06/2008
Type of information: research publication
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
This book brings together scholars, practitioners, former regulators, and policymakers to address the problem of expanding information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity in emerging Asia. It centrally engages the widespread claim that technology by itself — independent of policy and regulatory reform — can improve access to ICTs. In doing so, it shows that while complex workarounds are possible, they are significantly less effective than the appropriate policy and regulatory reforms.

This book examines how theoretically optimal concepts actually get implemented in the hard terrain of emerging Asia. It gleans lessons from five Asian countries — Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — based on their experiences with expanding ICT connectivity. It reports the findings of a cutting-edge 3000+ sample demand-side survey of telephone use at the "bottom of the pyramid" in India and Sri Lanka. It considers the problem of expanding connectivity from different angles: that of the user, the operator, the policymaker, the regulator, and civil society. And it sheds light on a range of situations and technologies, like telephone use in post-conflict regions of Sri Lanka, Wi-Fi deployment in Indonesia, and universal service obligations in India.

The Editors

Rohan Samarajiva is Executive Director of LIRNEasia, and former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in Sri Lanka. He is also former Team Leader at the Ministry for Economic Reform, Science and Technology, responsible for infrastructure reforms in Sri Lanka.

Ayesha Zainudeen is a researcher at LIRNEasia. She has a Bachelor’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics.

Title: Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2009–2010
Editors: Shahid Akhtar and Patricia Arinto
Pages: 382 pp.
ISBN: 978-81-321-0084-3
e-ISBN 978-1-52550-456-7
Publisher: Sage, ICDR, Orbicom
Date (published): 2009
Date (accessed): 13/06/2009
Type of information: research publication
Language: English
On-line access: yes
Abstract:
The biennial Digital Review of Asia Pacific is a comprehensive guide to the state-of-practice and trends in information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) in Asia Pacific.

This fourth edition (2009–2010) features 30 economies and four subregional groupings. The chapters provide updated information on ICT infrastructure, industries, content and services, key initiatives, enabling policies, regulation, education and capacity building, open source and R&D initiatives, as well as key ICTD challenges in each of the economies covered. The common framework that underpins these reports allows readers to undertake a comparative analysis and assess progress across the region.

In addition, regional overviews provide a synthesis of ICTD trends, regulatory issues, and lessons for managing innovation in the network economy. The thematic chapters focus on issues in ICT in education, a key area in ICTD.

The authors are drawn from government, academe, industry and civil society, providing a broad perspective on the use of ICTs for human development.