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21 – 30 of over 2000Carlos M. Baigorri and Wilfredo L. Maldonado
The purpose of this paper is to propose a new methodology to assess the economic and social impacts of policies to promote mass access to the internet in fixed broadband. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a new methodology to assess the economic and social impacts of policies to promote mass access to the internet in fixed broadband. The authors apply the methodology to the Brazilian broadband market.
Design/methodology/approach
For this purpose, municipal information concerning the provision of EILD is used, and then a stylized model of definition of service penetration based on information regarding the price, the distribution of income and the number of households served is proposed.
Findings
The results indicate that cost reduction policies are more effective than measures to promote competition through the introduction of state-owned enterprises in the telecommunication market for broadband service. On the other hand, the results also indicate that the federal and state governments face a dilemma between broadband policy and tax policy.
Originality/value
This is a new and original methodology to model the broadband market demand, which is useful to assess the impact of regulation policies in the sector as well as structural changes in that market.
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Dong Zhou and Wenwen Wang
This paper aims to conduct research to examine the impact of Internet adoption on the productivity of firms in non-urban China.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conduct research to examine the impact of Internet adoption on the productivity of firms in non-urban China.
Design/methodology/approach
The study investigates the impact of Internet adoption on firms' productivity in non-urban China. More specifically, the authors conduct a comprehensive and rigorous study while addressing concerns related to firm-level endogeneity by utilizing firm-level panel data. Information on firms in non-urban areas is collected from China's Annual Surveys of Industrial Firm data. For robustness, the authors implement the instrumental variables approach and propensity score matching estimations to strengthen the evidence for suggestive causal inference. Furthermore, the authors also examine the mechanisms and group heterogeneity.
Findings
Evidence indicate that the adoption of Internet technology positively impacts the total factor productivity (TFP) of firms in non-urban areas. According to the heterogeneity analysis, the marginal effect of Internet adoption is more significant and pronounced for labor-intensive, private and small-scale manufacturing firms. Moreover, additional evidence suggest that Internet adoption is beneficial for non-urban firms in expanding their business and enlarging their market. It has also been found that the positive effect of Internet adoption on firms' TFP is amplified by expanding public infrastructure.
Originality/value
The current study supports that the informatization strategy benefits non-urban firms and promotes rural revitalization. The findings suggest the possibility of firms borrowing market size from the closest cities and supporting the ongoing policies of investing in broadband infrastructure to narrow the urban-rural digital gap in China.
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Spyros E. Polykalas and Kyriakos G. Vlachos
To examine broadband competition and broadband penetration in a set of countries that employ the same regulation framework. To define the policy and strategy required to promote…
Abstract
Purpose
To examine broadband competition and broadband penetration in a set of countries that employ the same regulation framework. To define the policy and strategy required to promote broadband in weak markets that do not employ alternative infrastructures.
Design/methodology/approach
Study penetration and competition level statistics from 2002 to 2005 in a set of countries with different infrastructures deployed, services provided as well as in their social‐economic structures but employing the same regulation framework. Measure the level of inter‐platform and intra‐platform competition as well as the availability of bitstream access versus the incumbents' shares.
Findings
The paper concludes that a mature broadband market is the one that exhibits a high penetration ratio in combination with a high competition level. Bitstream access can counterbalance the inexistence of alternative broadband infrastructures, especially in weak markets. In particular the availability of numerous bitstream access types in combination with the proper price differentiation can fuel broadband adoption in relatively weak broadband markets.
Originality/value
The paper challenges the general rule that only platform (also known as facility) based competition guarantees long‐term growth of the broadband market. Bitstream and resale access do not lag local loop unbundling and can be used in weak markets that do not employ alternative infrastructures to fuel competition in the relevant markets. Different policies and strategies must be followed, in that case, on behalf of the local NRA.
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Dah-Kwei Liou, Li-Chun Hsu and Wen-Hai Chih
Based on the tricomponent attitude model, a research model is developed to investigate the factors that influence users’ use intentions regarding broadband television. These…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the tricomponent attitude model, a research model is developed to investigate the factors that influence users’ use intentions regarding broadband television. These factors are divided into vendor’s service and personal psychology perspectives. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The research sample consisted of 631 respondents with experience in using broadband television. This study adopted structural equation modeling to test the proposed model.
Findings
The results show that the structural model has a good fit and indicates that perceived system quality, perceived content quality, customization, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk directly influence users’ opinions toward broadband television and indirectly affect their continuance intention to use through attitude to use.
Practical implications
From a managerial standpoint, this study can assist internet protocol television (IPTV) service providers in understanding the critical determinants that influence consumers’ continuance intention to use IPTV.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the understanding of consumers’ continuance intention to use IPTV by introducing customers’ perspectives for vendor’s service factors (perceived system quality, perceived content quality, customization, and perceived ease of use) to current theoretical models. From a personal psychology perspective, this study provides sound evidence that the determinants of perceived price level and perceived risk are critical factors that affect consumers’ attitude to use and continuance intention to use of broadband televisions.
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This paper aims to analyze the determinants of broadband diffusion, taking into account supply‐side factors such as market entry regulation and demand‐side factors such as…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the determinants of broadband diffusion, taking into account supply‐side factors such as market entry regulation and demand‐side factors such as secondary education attainment.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes 27 countries from the European Union (EU) from 1996 to 2009 using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), which combines quantitative and qualitative methods.
Findings
The main findings point out that there is one way for “innovator” adopters and “laggard” adopters in broadband diffusion, while there are few ways for the remaining adopters. Moreover, high entry regulation is associated more with “innovator” adopters, “early adopters” and “early majority adopters” in broadband diffusion, while medium and low entry regulations are associated more with “late majority” and “laggard” adopters in broadband diffusion.
Social implications
This paper suggests that high secondary school attainment is a necessary factor for broadband innovator countries. By contrast, low income and low secondary school attainment are factors connected with late majority and laggard broadband adopters.
Originality/value
At present, there is no other research about broadband diffusion or technology diffusion that uses this mixed approach. While the results may not be very conclusive, they will serve as an initial springboard for further research into more specific‐variable studies.
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Hernan Galperin, Judith Mariscal and María Fernanda Viecens
The ambitious government initiatives currently underway to accelerate broadband development indicate a major shift from the consensus that prevailed during the 1990 s in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The ambitious government initiatives currently underway to accelerate broadband development indicate a major shift from the consensus that prevailed during the 1990 s in the telecommunications sector. To what extent does this change represent a return to the period before market liberalization and the privatization of government‐run telecom services? What are the main objectives of national broadband plans and which policy tools are best suited to achieve them? This paper aims to analyze these questions through a comparative analysis of the goals, policy instruments and network‐deployment models of the most relevant national broadband plans adopted in Latin America.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper takes the form of a comparative analysis of the goals, policy instruments and network‐deployment models of the most relevant national broadband plans adopted in Latin America.
Findings
Common patterns and key differences between the initiatives adopted in five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico) are identified and compared to those deployed in developed countries. Variations in the strategies adopted are linked to national differences in economic endowments and the broader processes of political change in Latin America.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper making this comparative analysis.
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J. Scott Marcus and Dieter Elixmann
The purpose of the paper is to address the issue of demand for broadband access and the specific role that bandwidth plays in this context. The aim is to assess available…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to address the issue of demand for broadband access and the specific role that bandwidth plays in this context. The aim is to assess available empirical evidence regarding the dynamics of bandwidth consumption in different countries and to discuss implications for public policy regarding the deployment of ultra-fast broadband infrastructures, in particular vis-à-vis the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE).
Design/methodology/approach
The approach adopted uses publicly available empirical data in order to derive patterns of the development of broadband demand in previous years as well as regarding current demand in specific countries. The authors contrast these findings with information on the deployment of broadband infrastructures in these countries.
Findings
The relationship between availability of fast broadband and the use of bandwidth by consumers appears to be richer and more complex than many have assumed. Availability of fast broadband does not alone appear to determine the level of use. This suggests that a more balanced approach between supply side and demand side measures is likely to be warranted.
Originality/value
The paper provides new evidence on the relationship between the speed of fast broadband infrastructure and its use by consumers.
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Christoph Lattemann, Stefan Stieglitz, Sören Kupke and Anna‐Maria Schneider
Broadband access plays a major role for economic growth and for social and cultural development of urban and rural areas. A provision of broadband infrastructure and services in…
Abstract
Purpose
Broadband access plays a major role for economic growth and for social and cultural development of urban and rural areas. A provision of broadband infrastructure and services in these areas is not attractive for private investments because of a low or even negative expected rate on return. The purpose of this paper is to identify different modes of public private partnership (PPP) funding and organizational models of collaborations among public and private partners to establish broadband infrastructures. Decision makers get insights about innovative financial and structural models to bring broadband into rural areas.
Design/methodology/approach
Organizational and financial structures of PPP projects will be analyzed by six PPP case studies from the broadband sector in Sweden, Great Britain, and France. This research adopts a data triangulation approach.
Findings
A comparative case study analysis about “broadband‐PPPs” from different countries depicts that the organizational and financial funding models differ from project to project. PPPs represent a good alternative to build a broadband infrastructure through mutual collaboration between public and private partners. The examined case studies verify that a PPP is an appropriate instrument to implement broadband infrastructures, especially in case of market failure.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is mainly based on case studies. Thus, the significance of the derived results is limited.
Practical implications
Companies in the sector of telecommunication as well as decision makers learn about different financing models to implement broadband in rural areas and to increase broadband penetration.
Originality/value
This contribution shows that there are relationships among three key factors of PPPs: environmental conditions (risk, social structures, density of population, etc.), organizational model, and funding modes. This knowledge helps researchers and decision makers to measure different scenarios to bring broadband access into rural areas.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide a model to measure the effect of broadband availability on economic growth in developed OECD countries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a model to measure the effect of broadband availability on economic growth in developed OECD countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The effect of the broadband availability‐related variables on economic growth is analyzed by using cross‐country panel data for 34 OECD countries over the years 1998‐2009. The robustness of the results by the six econometric estimation approaches is compared. The preferable dynamic panel model with the system of Generalized Method of Moments is selected.
Findings
The access channels per inhabitant and total broadband per inhabitant have improved over time, but vary across the analysed OECD countries. The improved access channels per inhabitant and gross capital growth (investment) play a positive and significant role in the per‐capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Labour productivity growth has encouraged economic growth positively. These results are robust independently of the estimation procedure.
Research limitations/implications
The authors do not find a positive and significant role of the total broadband per inhabitant on the per‐capita GDP growth. These findings and the results for control variables pertaining to trade openness and inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in the growth equation are biased to the estimation procedure.
Originality/value
The conceptual‐empirical value to the research of new connections made using the key elements of economic growth theory with focus on the effect of the broadband availability, main macroeconomic and economic openness variables on economic growth. This is one of the first studies that, in the growth equation, uses different broadband availability‐related variables, which in addition to gross capital growth, government consumption, and inflation in the adjusted augmented growth model are controlled for labour productivity growth, trade openness, and inward FDI.
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Nejc M. Jakopin and Andreas Klein
Diffusion levels of broadband internet access vary across triad countries and emerging markets alike. Major industrialised nations face criticism for allegedly “lagging behind” in…
Abstract
Purpose
Diffusion levels of broadband internet access vary across triad countries and emerging markets alike. Major industrialised nations face criticism for allegedly “lagging behind” in broadband development. This study aims to highlight drivers of broadband take‐up that help explain and properly evaluate the diffusion situation of a country.
Design/methodology/approach
The study investigates worldwide broadband internet access take‐up in terms of fixed and mobile broadband penetration and broadband launch lead time by drawing on a wide range of variables of which some have not been examined in previous studies (e.g. home office workers, service sector activities or local call prices).
Findings
Results show that broadband internet take‐up significantly benefits from economic prosperity and computer penetration. Moreover, general regulatory quality has a significant influence. The effect of other regulatory and market environment variables is declining over time with associations becoming insignificant in 2009 data.
Research limitations/implications
Further research based on findings and limitations of the present study should incorporate quality of broadband, more accurate/differentiated measurement of broadband, conditionality, moderating effects, non‐linearity, as well as broadband implications for economic development.
Originality/value
This study covers a broad set of indicators and includes time lags in multivariate analysis to generate a holistic picture of broadband development drivers and their relevance over time.
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