Innovative Business Models for Expanding Fiber-Optic Networks and Closing the Access Gaps
The increasing importance of the Internet, not only for tasks related to information search, storage, and sharing, but also for connecting people and business, domestic and international trade, education, entertainment and social interactions, has...
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| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/674601544534500678/Innovative-Business-Models-for-Expanding-Fiber-Optic-Networks-and-Closing-the-Access-Gaps http://hdl.handle.net/10986/31072 |
| Summary: | The increasing importance of the
Internet, not only for tasks related to information search,
storage, and sharing, but also for connecting people and
business, domestic and international trade, education,
entertainment and social interactions, has led governments
around the world to include Internet connectivity in their
priority policy agendas and infrastructure plans. Today,
access to the Internet is no longer a luxury, but is
increasingly considered an essential service, as important
as building transportation and utility networks. However,
more than four billion people, overwhelmingly in developing
countries, still lack Internet access. For the past decade,
policy makers have sought ways to best create an enabling
environment to direct national resources and engage the
private sector to effectively expand access to the Internet.
In doing so, policy makers and regulators face a unique
combination of priorities, resources, market structures, and
geographies that will affect their national plans.
Experience shows that no one-size-fits-all approach exists,
but past and current experience can be analyzed for common
factors contributing to success or failure to support
similar endeavors in the future. This report reviews and
provides guidance on innovative business models and
approaches to the deployment of high-speed broadband
networks and highlights global trends related to terrestrial
spectrum resources that can be leveraged to meet expected
future demand and close existing Internet access gaps. It is
intended to serve as a reference tool to help policy makers
and regulators assess alternatives for infrastructure
deployment and adopt decisions tailored to their country’s
circumstances and needs. |
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