Telecommunications/ICTs for Rural and Remote Areas
Final Report [Question 5/1]
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This report provides case studies for planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of telecommunications/ICTs in rural and remote areas. It adresses the various challenges that constitute the development of telecommunications/ICTs in rural and remote areas, especially in the context of developing countries, and provides examples of the dedicated policies, initiatives and government subsidies that are implemented in countries around the world. While the consideration of technical, economic and geographical aspects of each project is essential, developing countries face numerous challenges, the lack of local demand and available revenue streams, which may delay the commercial deployment of telecommunications /ICTs in rural and remote areas. As for telecommunications technologies, there is no definite measure for the choice of technologies, and thus various technologies that could be best suited for each location are to be assessed. ITU studies show that a growth in services has happened most rapidly where regulatory enablers have been put in place to leverage the latest technologies and innovations. Consistent, forward-looking, updated and well-enforced regulation provides for a vibrant market and benefits both service providers and consumers.
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Introduction
ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU–D) Study Group 1 Question 5/1 and its issues for study were agreed by the 2014 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14). The Question has been studied in former ITU-D Study Group 2 for several terms, and during the periods the situation of telecommunications/ICTs for rural and remote areas1 has changed. Recently, mobile broadband technologies are getting increasingly wide spread, and terminal equipment and network facilities are getting cheaper due to standardized production. In this regard, considering economical merits, technologies adapted for rural and remote areas may need to be common to these technologies utilized widely all over the world. It is necessary to study the situation in this field and comparing with the past periods. In addition to technologies, public policies, regulatory measures, and business models have become important for the development of telecommunications/ICTs for rural and remote areas.
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