Abstract
As the body of evidence on the usefulness of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for poverty reduction and development continues to grow, mobile network operators (MNOs), development agencies, and regulators are employing various measures to increase universal access. These measures are motivated by corporate social responsibility, pro-poor ideologies, and regulatory requirements imposed by regulators. While regulators have employed price controls and infrastructure sharing, MNOs have employed free basics to provide internet access to those who could not afford it. The introduction of free basics seems plausible, but it is fraught with implementation challenges. This article discusses such challenges with a view to clarifying how the steps taken to foster affordability affect the conflicting interests of different stakeholders on the ICT data and voice eco-system.
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