Abstract
Encouraged by broadband development initiatives and strategies that aim at the reduction of the existing digital divide between rural and urban European areas by the year 2020, the current situation in the case study of Croatian rural broadband market is analysed, and the possibilities for further broadband Internet access implementation in rural areas are highlighted in the paper within the context of broadband ecosystem elements analysis. Furthermore, in order to address the exisiting digital divide problem, an extended techno- economic modelling process for rural broadband Internet access implementation analyses is proposed. The proposed additional part of model serves as an upgrade for the standard techno- economic models and allows a detailed analysis of the specificities of different rural areas, based on the available data. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed model’s application when choosing the best business strategies for different fixed and mobile, wired and wireless broadband access solutions in rural areas is presented.
Highlights
Broadband Internet services present an effective means of delivering digital information to users
Broadband implementation in rural areas addresses the inequality in the access to information and communication services, i.e. the digital divide between rural and urban areas [3], as well as some negative perceptions of rural life that lead to depopulation and pauperization of rural areas [4]
The results show that a 1 % increase in the gross domestic product is associated with the approximately 10 % increase in the number of broadband users in both groups of counties
Summary
Broadband Internet services present an effective means of delivering digital information to users. A need for broadband services is continually growing as residential and business users demand ubiquitous highspeed Internet access. Broadband Internet services enhance the quality of life of residential users and increase economic development and productivity for business users [1]. Broadband Internet access enables remote access to health care and education and expands the market potential for rural businesses. Broadband implementation in rural areas addresses the inequality in the access to information and communication services, i.e. the digital divide between rural and urban areas [3], as well as some negative perceptions of rural life that lead to depopulation and pauperization of rural areas [4]
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