White spots and black holes: developing a conceptual model for broadband rollout

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to create insight into the way technological, economic or regulatory factors affect broadband rollout in the local loop with the objective of developing a conceptual model that will help us gain insight into critical relationships between these factors and the decision to broadband infrastructure investments, implementation and broadband rollout in the local loop.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop a conceptual framework the study used three research methods. A meta‐analysis was conducted to collect and analyze relevant existing literature that discusses broadband rollout in the local loop. Content analysis was used to analyze hypothesis and propositions and network analysis was used to analyze the data extracted from the literature.

Findings

The network found provides a valid picture of the complexity involved in broadband rollout. The combination of research methods used has resulted in an approach that is both practical and robust when it comes to describing the state‐of‐the‐art in a coherent and clear way.

Research limitations/implications

One has to consider that broadband is a relative concept. The definition of broadband has changed during the period in which the papers were published (1992‐2004).

Practical implications

Networks, and thus network analysis, always reflect the choice made by the researcher with regard to the key concepts. If the study had started from other dependent variables (nodes in the network), it would have found a different network.

Originality/value

This paper presents a theoretical framework based on a meta‐analysis of existing research with regard to broadband roll out in the local loop. Until now, a coherent theory has been lacking. Most research is based on implicit assumptions or on economic/econometric models that are insufficiently explained.

Citation

Bouwman, H., Fijnvandraat, M. and van de Wijngaert, L. (2006), "White spots and black holes: developing a conceptual model for broadband rollout", info, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 72-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636690610643294