Extending Telecommunications beyond the Market : Toward Universal Service in Competitive Environments
Competitive markets go a long way toward making telecommunications services available throughout the population. But governments often seek to extend access to services beyond what the private sector will provide on its own. To widen access, govern...
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| Format: | Viewpoint |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2012
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2000/03/729344/extending-telecommunications-beyond-market-toward-universal-service-competitive-environments http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11439 |
| Summary: | Competitive markets go a long way toward
making telecommunications services available throughout the
population. But governments often seek to extend access to
services beyond what the private sector will provide on its
own. To widen access, governments must remove obstacles that
prevent the market from working well, and must let users
decide what they need and can afford. Market mechanisms must
be allowed to determine who will extend service beyond the
market, how much will be invested, and where. As governments
adopt such measures, they must make some critical decisions:
Which services to extend? To what population groups? At what
cost? Who should provide the additional service? Who should
pay? The answers vary widely among countries and over time.
This Note outlines options and best practices, emphasizing
those relevant to emerging economies. |
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