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Taking a forward looking and global perspective, the paper seeks to address the issue of whether the concept of public service telecommunications has any relevance to the future.
Abstract
Purpose
Taking a forward looking and global perspective, the paper seeks to address the issue of whether the concept of public service telecommunications has any relevance to the future.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on published sources to look at the history of public service telecommunications, mainly in the USA, reviews the progress towards universal service across the world and explores the likely future developments in the telecommunications landscape over the next few decades.
Findings
The concept of public service telecommunications helped to stabilise the telecommunications industry in its infancy but ultimately stifled access to telecommunications services at affordable prices. However, the future will still need to be nurtured so that telecommunications are provided genuinely in a way that serves the public interest.
Originality/value
Provides a global and forward‐looking view on the value of the public interest in telecommunications.
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Keywords
Staffan Brege, Per‐Olof Brehmer and Helena Lindskog
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how and why the question of outsourcing or insourcing within a specific empirical context, telecommunications services, has…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how and why the question of outsourcing or insourcing within a specific empirical context, telecommunications services, has been handled differently over time.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal study on procurement of telecommunications for the Swedish public sector's organizations during the last 40 years. The empirical data were collected from three case studies and one research project.
Findings
The paper identifies four phases: from a simple buying situations, via insourcing of equipment in order to produce some services in‐house, to outsourcing of telecommunications in a first step and to outsourcing of combined data and telecommunications in a second step. Three major contextual determinants are identified for the public procurement of telecommunications services: de‐monopolization, rapid technical development and pressure on public agencies from politicians, citizens and others. In addition to low cost, core competence, control and flexibility, the paper identifies business development as a new logic for outsourcing and insourcing.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to Sweden and public procurement of telecommunications services. Therefore, it would be of value to test if the development of public procurement of telecommunications in other countries passed through the same phases and with the same determinants.
Practical implications
Many of the findings are valid for public procurement in other countries, especially in the European Union due to the common legislative base for public procurement.
Originality/value
The paper fulfills an identified need to carry out a longitudinal study of changes in public procurement of telecommunications through the different phases of in/outsourcing.
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Francis Atsu, Charles Agyei, William Phanuel Darbi and Sussana Adjei-Mensah
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the long-run impact of telecommunications revenue and telecommunications investment on economic growth of Ghana for the time horizon…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the long-run impact of telecommunications revenue and telecommunications investment on economic growth of Ghana for the time horizon 1976-2007.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the Augmented Dickey Fuller and Phillips Perron unit root test to explore the stationarity property of the variables and the Engle-Granger residual-based test of cointegration to model an appropriate restricted error correction model.
Findings
The outcome of the analysis produced mixed results. Telecommunications revenue does not contribute significantly whilst telecommunications investment does.
Practical implications
Policy makers will have to deal with a conundrum; while designing targeted policies that will attract more telecommunication investment in order to maximize the corresponding revenues and the economic growth it brings in its wake, they must at the same time find ways and resources to grow the economy to a point or threshold where revenue from telecommunications can have the much needed impact on their economies.
Originality/value
The study is one of the first that has investigated the line of causality between telecommunication revenue and economic growth unlike previous research that mainly focused on the impact of telecommunication infrastructure on economic development.
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Ping Gao and Jing Hua Li
The purpose of this paper is to explore how to use structuration theory as a benchmarking tool to analyze the formulation of a national strategy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how to use structuration theory as a benchmarking tool to analyze the formulation of a national strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a longitudinal case study of the telecommunications industry of China.
Findings
The case study demonstrates structuration theory is a useful tool for the benchmarking analysis. It is found that China's telecommunications industry has transformed by stages and undergone several benchmarks. The specific social and technological elements of China have determined the formulation of its national telecommunications transformation strategy.
Research limitations/implications
The paper extends benchmarking research to strategy formulation. It proposes structuration theory can be used in this aspect of benchmarking analysis.
Practical implications
Implications for how to use structuration theory in the benchmarking analysis, especially that of national strategy formulation are given.
Originality/value
For the first time in the literature, this paper applies structuration theory to benchmarking analysis.
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Aims to provide the contextual framework for local and foreign manufacturers in assessing the market potential of China's telecommunications equipment market, including an…
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to provide the contextual framework for local and foreign manufacturers in assessing the market potential of China's telecommunications equipment market, including an analysis of contemporary economic, political and historical issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an inductive, interpretative case study.
Findings
History matters in the evolution of China's telecommunications market especially given its concern over maintaining control of a strategic interest, as well as the protection of vested interests within the state‐controlled economy.
Originality/value
To practitioners: the importance of research, vis‐a`‐vis interpretation and argument, in assessing market potential in a high‐technology market. To academics: the role of government in the value chain and network especially when they have controlling stakes, as is the case here with China's telecommunications equipment manufacturers and operators.
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Telecommunications comprises a vital component of information infrastructures and services, with a historically strong public interest dimension. For the best part of 30 years…
Abstract
Purpose
Telecommunications comprises a vital component of information infrastructures and services, with a historically strong public interest dimension. For the best part of 30 years, the telecommunications sector in Europe has been the subject of a radical reorganisation in structural and operational terms along the lines of neo‐liberalism. This paper aims to analyse the significance of the neo‐liberal project in telecommunications in respect of the related dimensions of ideology and practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a public policy critique of the manifestation of neo‐liberalism in the telecommunications sector in the European Union, employing desk‐based research on relevant primary and secondary source documentation.
Findings
The paper finds that proponents of neo‐liberalism have been able to secure the broad acceptance of neo‐liberalism as a “view of the world” for telecommunications. It shows that in practice, however, the neo‐liberal model in telecommunications provides evidence of a less than efficacious adoption process in three respects: neo‐liberalism requires an elaborately managed system the regulatory burden of which has been under‐emphasised; the normative success of neo‐liberalism has masked how difficult it has actually proven to be to create competition; the preoccupation with markets and competition has resulted in de‐emphasis of public interest issues in telecommunications.
Originality/value
This paper contributes up‐to‐date knowledge of the nature and effects of neo‐liberalism in the European telecommunication sector. It provides a challenge and counterweight to the “received wisdom” that neo‐liberalism has been an overwhelmingly successful approach to the re‐ordering of European telecommunications.
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Keywords
Thomas Kiessling and Yves Blondeel
Shows that some national governments’ policy to promote specific market structures have either proved ineffective (France) or increased entry barriers, likely to raise industry…
Abstract
Shows that some national governments’ policy to promote specific market structures have either proved ineffective (France) or increased entry barriers, likely to raise industry cost (Spain). Argues high‐speed cable modems are the way forward for the future. Concludes, in order to achieve long‐term efficiency, the regulator should promote a mix of infrastructure and service competition to enable viability in the long term.
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By 2016, Botswana aspires to triple its 1994 per capita income and to completely diversify its economic base. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) objectives, as…
Abstract
By 2016, Botswana aspires to triple its 1994 per capita income and to completely diversify its economic base. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) objectives, as spelt out in the SADC Policy document, emphasise the attainment of enhanced development and economic growth, poverty alleviation, and support of the socially disadvantaged through regional integration. Since telecommunications have long been recognised as the engine for economic growth, the aspirations of SADC and Botswana are consistent with the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications, and Metrology, which aims at developing a reliable, efficient, vibrant, consumer‐driven telecommunications sector. We examine the focus of the World Bank and the International Telecommunications Union, in global telecommunications development. We then discuss the efforts of Botswana and other SADC states in ensuring that they take advantage of the private sector finances to build reliable, sophisticated public telecommunications networks for entry into the Global Information Infrastructure (GII).
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Abd-Elrahman Hassanein Abd-Elrahman, Sally Ali Hassan, Azza Abd-Elkader El-Borsaly and Eglal Abd-Elmoneim Hafez
The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) models established in various empirical studies conducted across the world specifically applied to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) models established in various empirical studies conducted across the world specifically applied to telecommunications services.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines different SQ models reported in the literature applicable to the telecommunications sector. The selected 29 studies were limited to empirical English studies based on survey data and statistical methods of analysis and having the SQ construct defined from the customers’ perspective.
Findings
The review of various SQ models in telecommunications revealed that the meaning of SQ may have some universal aspects, as demonstrated by the similarities in the underlying dimensions as proposed in different studies. This paper lends support to the contention that the dimensions of the telecommunications SQ construct and their importance vary with the cultural and country context. A proposed model for measuring telecommunications SQ was presented as a trial to extract the best of previous models.
Research limitations/implications
This paper reviews only empirical studies based on survey data and statistical methods of analysis from 2001 to 2019.
Practical implications
The paper indicates that a generic instrument for measurement of SQ or even one specifically developed for telecommunications may not be applicable in its original form for all cultural contexts. The development of a customized scale, such as a modified SERVQUAL for measuring the SQ for a particular cultural or country context at that particular time, is warranted.
Originality/value
The reported study describes and contrasts a large number of SQ measurement constructs and highlights the usage of dimensions.
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To assess the impact of China's WTO commitments on foreign investment flows, domestic regulation and industry performance in the telecommunications services sector.
Abstract
Purpose
To assess the impact of China's WTO commitments on foreign investment flows, domestic regulation and industry performance in the telecommunications services sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Situates GATS disciplines in telecommunications in their historical context, then reviews China's specific commitments, and finally reviews available data on developments in China since accession.
Findings
China's commitments on market access and national treatment in telecommunications services are rather modest, and China is lagging in the implementation of regulatory disciplines. Nevertheless, China has gone a long distance toward a complete transformation of the telecommunications sector with little outside influence and no outside ownership or control. It is mainly because the prospect of joining the WTO and opening to the world galvanized government and industry into action. The overall thrust of those actions, however, has been to ensure that telecommunications plays its full role as a strategic economic sector and helps deliver economic benefits to the Chinese people in order to legitimize Communist Party leadership.
Research limitations/implications
Up‐to‐date and coherent data on industry performance (e.g. penetration rates, productivity increases, etc.) are lacking.
Practical implications
Very useful background and analysis relating to: relationship between, on the one hand, international trade commitments and, on the other hand, domestic reforms and industry performance; and on‐going issues in China's efforts to implement its WTO obligations and to create a statutory, regulatory and institutional framework supportive of continued growth of the telecommunications sector in China.
Originality/value
Responds to an identified information need with information and analysis of practical value.
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