Telecommunications Policy Research Articles

Trends in scientific production in telecommunications (1981–2023): a bibliometric study

Purpose: Telecommunications have evolved in response to technological advancements and regulatory changes established in law. There remains a research gap concerning universal access to communication rights, which can be addressed through a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature. This study aimed to identify trends in telecommunications research. Accordingly, it analyzed annual scientific output, determined the most representative journals, examined prevalent keywords, highlighted the most productive authors, and identified key articles in the field.Methods: Scientific production was analyzed using the Scopus database. Documents published between 1981 and 2023 in English were included, while those not relevant to the study topic were excluded. A total of 237 documents were analyzed using the Biblioshiny interface and Microsoft Excel.Results: Annual scientific output peaked in 2021, with an annual growth of 2.91%. The most representative journal was <i>Telecommunications Policy</i>. The consolidated keywords were “communication rights,” “public service media,” “media policy,” “regulation,” and “telecommunications.” The most productive authors were Amy Sanders and Pradip Thomas. The most cited article addressed the institutional foundations of telecommunications regulation.Conclusion: There was evidence of growing scientific production in telecommunications, published in high-impact journals with an interdisciplinary approach. The main topics related to telecommunications were communication rights, regulation, and internet governance. Despite the presence of prolific authors, a need for greater collaboration in the formation of international research networks was identified.

디지털 대전환 시대의 합리적 가계통신비 산정 및 통신비 차이 비교분석

With the digital transformation, the market structure of the telecommunications market changes rapidly, and whether the current level of household telecommunications costs is appropriate is controversial in the process of implementing telecommunications policies. In the midst of this, as the arguments for each stakeholder on the components and levels of appropriate household communication costs differ, it is intensifying into social confrontation rather than rational problem solving. As the controversy over objective household communication costs grows, the need to quantitatively analyze household communication costs based on state-approved statistics is being emphasized. Therefore, this study aims to explore policy implications for reasonable household communication costs estimation by analyzing household communication costs in detail and accurately interpreting their meaning with state-approved statistical data published by the National Statistical Office. In response to changes in the digital environment, we plan to redefine the UN's COICOP system, which takes into account the increase in spending on platforms, content, and digital devices, in the calculation method of household communication expenses to suit Korea. In addition, in order to correct that existing household communication costs do not reflect the contents of device content, this study suggests the necessity of switching to the concept of “household digital cost” instead of “household communication cost” and estimates reasonable “household digital cost”.

Revisiting the Scope of Section 35ABB of the Income Tax Act

The Supreme Court (SC), on 16 October 2023, observed that licence fees paid by telecom companies under the New Telecom Policy 1999 would be a capital expenditure under section 35ABB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Quashing the judgments of high courts of Delhi, Bombay and Karnataka, the SC ruled that the nomenclature and mode of payment have no relevance as such payment relates to the licence fee, an integral part of the licence agreement to remain in the business. It ruled under the New Telecom Policy 1999 that there is no basis to reclassify the variable portion of the licence fee as revenue expenditure; instead, both fixed and variable fees are homogeneous and are capital expenditures. Moreover, a single transaction cannot be artificially bifurcated into capital and revenue components by mere consideration of payment mode, posing a challenge for the sector already confronting significant financial stress. However, the Telecommunication Act enacted in December 2023 attempts to address multiple challenges of the sector, but grey areas still need to be addressed, which could lead to future litigation. Against those backdrops, the study attempts to assess the impact of the ruling connecting with the New Act on the sector.

Shifting Neoliberalism in US Telecommunications Policy: A Critical Reading of Chicago School Roads

Shifting Neoliberalism in US Telecommunications Policy: A Critical Reading of Chicago School Roads

Reviewing wireless broadband technologies in the peak smartphone era: 6G versus Wi-Fi 7 and 8

With the arrival of the peak smartphone era, users are upgrading their smartphones less frequently, and data growth is decelerating. To ensure effective spectrum management decisions, policy makers require a thorough understanding of prospective wireless broadband technologies, current trends and emerging issues. Here, we review the sixth cellular generation (‘6G’), in comparison to two new Wi-Fi standards, including IEEE 802.11be (‘Wi-Fi 7’) and IEEE 802.11bn (‘Wi-Fi 8’). We identify three emerging issues necessary for successful telecommunication policy. Firstly, evidenced-based policy making needs to be able to measure effectively how much demand takes place where and how. Thus, new datasets are needed reflecting real usage by different wireless broadband technologies, for indoor and outdoor users. Secondly, with data consumption growth slowing, there needs to be an urgent reassessment of spectrum demand versus allocation. Past forecasts do not reflect recent data and regulators urgently need to re-evaluate the implications for spectrum management. Finally, regulators need new and improved Lifecycle Impact Assessment metrics of cellular versus Wi-Fi architectures, to support successful policy decisions which mitigate energy and emissions impacts.

REVIEW OF TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATION AND POLICY: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS USA AND AFRICA

This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of telecommunication regulation and policy frameworks in the United States (USA) and various African countries. Telecommunications play a pivotal role in socio-economic development, and the regulatory environment significantly influences the sector's performance. The study explores the historical evolution, regulatory bodies, and frameworks in both regions, aiming to identify commonalities, disparities, and the impact of regulatory approaches on market dynamics. The review begins by delineating the theoretical foundations of telecommunications regulation, emphasizing concepts such as market liberalization, competition, and regulatory governance. A historical overview traces the development of regulatory frameworks in the USA and Africa, shedding light on the contextual factors that shaped each region's approach. In examining telecommunications regulation in the USA, the paper delves into the roles and responsibilities of key regulatory bodies, notably the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The regulatory framework is scrutinized, with a focus on market liberalization, spectrum management, and licensing policies. Achievements and challenges within the US regulatory landscape are critically evaluated. Turning to Africa, the study explores the diverse regulatory approaches adopted by selected countries and the influence of regional organizations on policy formulation. Common challenges faced by African regulators, as well as unique contextual factors shaping the regulatory landscape, are discussed. The heart of the analysis lies in the comparative assessment of regulatory objectives and policy instruments between the USA and Africa. The study evaluates the alignment of these objectives with the socio-economic context of each region and assesses the effectiveness of policy instruments in achieving regulatory goals. Examining the impact on the telecommunications sector, the paper contrasts market structures, competition levels, and the role of regulation in fostering technological development. The analysis extends to the implications of regulatory frameworks on the deployment of emerging technologies, such as 5G. The paper summarizes key findings, highlighting patterns, trends, and lessons learned from the comparative analysis. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed, emphasizing the potential for international collaboration and the identification of areas where improvements in regulatory frameworks can contribute to the sustainable development of the telecommunications sector in both the USA and Africa.
 Keywords: Telecommunications Regulation, Telecommunications Policy, Comparative Analysis, USA, Africa, Digital Inclusion.

The nexus between allied policies of GST and FDI with dependent telecom policies of licensing and universal service in India

The nexus between allied policies of GST and FDI with dependent telecom policies of licensing and universal service in India

Way leaves, rights of way and ducting policies for 5G mobile network deployment in India using international best practices

PurposeThis paper aims to draw lessons for telecommunications (telecom) network deployment in India, from a study of policy and regulatory approaches taken by other federal administrations in streamlining processes for site clearances, grant of rights of way (RoW) and approvals for local infrastructure deployment and sharing. With the urgent need for setting up small cells and rapid fiberisation of networks in the 5G era, the importance of such processes has gained prominence.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt qualitative thematic content analysis with three-tier coding and classification to identify themes in archival and current documentary data and information obtained from subject-matter experts in the countries studied.FindingsFormulation and implementation of telecom policy is led by national governments. However, national telecom administrations, in recognition of new needs, have co-opted states and local authorities as partners in development of telecom networks, providing the overall framework, guidance and appropriate incentives where required.Practical implicationsThis cooperative model could work well in India, where telecom policy making and regulation is the prerogative of the central government, but administration of RoW and local clearances for cable laying, tower siting and associated infrastructure activities for expanding telecom networks are left to decentralised decision-making in the states and local bodies.Originality/valueThis research attempts to sytematise, thematise and draw cross-country comparisons to inform regulatory and administrative policy for 5G infrastructure rollout in India.

Telecom industry grievance redressal system: a study of ombudsman approach in selected countries

PurposeThis study aims to explore the telecom regulations and telecom reforms of different countries in the context of consumer complaints and grievance handling. The telecom dispute resolution mechanisms of countries such as Australia, the USA, the UK and India are studied. This qualitative research is carried out for the three major telecom markets: Australia, the USA and India.Design/methodology/approachHere, research is conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the telecom policies of the major telecom markets, their ombudsman policies and consumer grievance redressal mechanisms are studied. In the second stage, the qualitative analysis of the three telecom markets, Australia, the USA and India, is conducted through in-depth interviews, the questionnaire method for telecom customers and secondary research.FindingsTelecom customer satisfaction is significantly higher in countries with the telecom ombudsman as a system of telecom governance redressal. This study dedicates significant importance to the distinctiveness of the grievance resolution systems in different countries and suggests recommendations for improving the mechanisms. The recommendations given in the research study emerge as the output of interviewing telecom experts, academicians and researchers and court judges.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has partial limitations as primary research was carried out only in selected countries with limited participants.Practical implicationsThis study is useful for policymakers, regulators and think tanks in the telecommunications sector.Social implicationsThe resolution of individual customer grievances is significant to the telecom industry and all participants. A well-oiled grievance redressal system enhances the trust among the service users and aids in the industry’s growth. Further practical assessment of redressal offered by different telecom operators can be used for benchmarking, and it can create an onus on telecom operators for timely and adequate redressal of consumer complaints. In certain countries with a well-developed alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, the service offerings of telecom operators and the quality of services are deemed to be better than those without such an ADR. The research aims to bring in the positives of ADR systems from specific telecom markets and suggest the effectiveness of such ADR for countries such as India, which has over 1.17billion active subscribers. This research aims to aid responsive communication with telecom consumers in the overall telecom industry, which can bolster telecom consumers’ confidence and help the industry grow sustainably. Discussing perspectives on telecom dispute resolution in various conferences and discussing use-cases of innovative dispute settlements can act as stimuli in this space. As ADR procedures are conducted in the shadow of the law, a dispute resolution framework must have a buy-in from the government, telecom experts, the judiciary and private telecom stakeholders. This can only help achieve a framework that can reap the benefits of various ADR/ODR processes facilitating better access to justice, including cost-effectiveness, swiftness, a broader reach for dispute resolution and improved efficiency of dispute resolution.Originality/valuePrevious studies have focused on the study of telecom reforms and mechanisms in a particular country and there was a limited comparison with other countries’ mechanisms. Also, there has been minimal research in this area in recent years. This paper contributes to analyzing the effectiveness of the telecom ombudsman framework in Australia, the USA, the UK and India. It also studies the reforms and consumer grievance-handling mechanisms in a few other countries. It also gives well-researched recommendations for improving the consumer grievance resolution system.

Telecommunications localism: the fight for control over local communication networks in the United States

While called the “bedrock” and “cornerstone” of US media policy, the localism principle has been chipped away over 40 years by the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) full throated embrace of market-based practices. Recently, however, localism has emerged as a pivotal battleground in telecommunications. Through case studies of three recent regulatory issues—local cable franchising, municipal broadband, and small cell deployment—this paper examines the role of localism in US-based cable and telecommunications policy. It coins the term “telecommunications localism” to capture the changing technological focus of media regulation, from content to infrastructure. In regulatory actions over the past decade the FCC has simultaneously acknowledged local municipalities’ role in telecommunications deployment and actively worked to curtail this power through deregulation. These deregulatory actions strip municipalities of their autonomy over license negotiations and local rights of way and stymies the development and deployment of local communication systems.

Forming Policy Intellectuals in the Asia Pacific and Africa: Communication Policy Research South, 2006–2018

ABSTRACT Knowledgeable and motivated policy intellectuals are needed for effective information and communication technology policy and regulation. This article describes a Telecommunication Policy Research Conference (TPRC)–influenced conference and training program intended to develop such policy intellectuals in the Asia Pacific and Africa, which began in 2006 and ended in 2018. It was unique in emphasizing the development of junior scholars. Evidence of research and policy engagement from tracer surveys is presented. The causes of the brevity of CPRsouth’s existence are analyzed in relation to EuroCPR and TPRC using a model of knowledge network evolution, including the role of external “subsidies” and the mismatch between potential funders and the scope of the activity.

Risk Management and Historical Bandwidth Markets in US Telecommunications

Over the past half century, telecommunications policy has shifted increasingly to use of markets to govern use of and access to broadband. Despite the rise of markets for spectrum licenses, robust markets for fixed line capacity have not kept pace. This is significant insofar as there has been a decades-long increase in demand for transmission capacity fueled by mobile and cloud service providers. We argue that part of the reason why the current bandwidth markets - the internet exchange markets - have yet to develop commodity market features whereby anyone can buy bandwidth for current or future use at any time is because of specific historical challenges in the implementation of markets for high-speed wireline connectivity. These previous missteps in creating bandwidth markets are instructive for understanding obstacles to bona fide commodity markets for bandwidth today as well as offer insight into the ways to overcome them as well as the benefits from doing so to address the wireless crunch.

Investment, Subsidies, and Universal Service: Broadband Internet in the United States

Abstract Access to the internet is critical for participating in modern society, and yet many Americans lack access to high-speed internet. A key objective of U.S. telecommunications policy is to promote policies that advance the availability of quality telecommunications services, with the goal of universal service. I develop a dynamic model of internet service providers’ entry, exit, and upgrade decisions. Estimating this model reveals the determinants of profits and variation in firms’ costs. I then use this information to simulate a variety of subsidy policies, and explore how the use of targeted subsidies can improve high-speed internet access.

Survival in a Competitive Market: A Study on Mobile Telecom Operators in India

The Indian telecom market is the second-largest telecommunication market in the world. The market is fiercely competitive due to the rising subscriber base and increasing demand for network connectivity. The present study tries to analyze the strategies and policies that determine the survival of the mobile telecom operators of India. The focus is also on the benefits and drawbacks of various factors that eventually lead to the success or failure of these companies. The study is based on an exploratory research method where 30 doctoral theses have been reviewed, and secondary sources, namely valuable reports, and websites, have been referred to. Gleaned from the literature review, it is found that with efficient policy-making, the Indian telecom industry deliberated on infrastructural support, technological advancement, and industrial development. The success of an organization depends not only on effective telecom policy structure but also on customer loyalty, customer retention, marketing mix, service quality, and corporate image of the telecom operators. All these factors positively influenced customer perception and satisfaction and motivated customers’ buying decision to have a competitive edge in the telecom market.

What do telecommunications policy academics have to fear from GPT-3?

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and GPT-3 have shot to prominence recently (Lin 2023), as dramatic advances have shown them to be capable of writing plausible output that is difficult to distinguish from human-authored content. Unsurprisingly, this has led to concerns about their use by students in tertiary education contexts (Swiecki et al. 2022) and it has led to them being banned in some school districts in the United States (e.g. Rosenblatt 2023; Clarridge 2023) and from at least one top-ranking international university (e.g. Reuters 2023). There are legitimate reasons for such fears to be held, as it is difficult to differentiate students’ own written work presented for assessment from that produced by the AI tools. Successfully embedding them into educational contexts requires an understanding of the tools, what they are, and what they can and cannot do. Despite their powerful modelling and description capabilities, these tools have (at least currently) significant issues and limitations (Zhang & Li 2021).As telecommunications policy academics charged with the research-led teaching and supervising both undergraduate and research students, we need to be certain that our graduates are capable of understanding the complexities of current issues in this incredibly dynamic field and applying their learnings appropriately in industry and policy environments. We must be reasonably certain that the grades we assign are based on the students’ own work and understanding, To this end, we engaged in an experiment with the current (Q1 of 2023) version of the AI tool to assess how well it coped with questions on a core and current topic in telecommunications policy education: the effects of access regulation (local loop unbundling) on broadband investment and uptake. We found that while the outputs were well-written and appeared plausible, there were significant systematic errors which, once academics are aware of them, can be exploited to avoid the risk of AI use severely undermining the credibility of the assessments we make of students’ written work, at least for the time being and in respect of the version of chatbot software we used.

Proposal of the Indonesian Framework for Telecommunications Infrastructure Based on Network and Socioeconomic Indicators

In Indonesia, there is still a disparity in telecommunications access, with most rural areas experiencing “no signal” or “blank spots.” In contrast, urban areas enjoy modern and societally-beneficial technologies. A comprehensive framework is needed to address the disparity in telecommunications access between “rich” and “poor” groups in urban and rural/remote areas, respectively. This paper proposes a framework, built by the mathematical model, that can be used as a reference for the Indonesian government in constructing the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure. The framework categorizes Indonesian administrative regions into four grids: Grid #1: “fostered” districts; Grid #2: “developing” districts; Grid #3: “developed” districts; and Grid #4: “independent-advanced” districts. To determine where each district falls in these grids, we propose a novel statistical approach using 17 indicators involving a telecommunications network and socioeconomic factors. The proposed framework results in a grid visualization of 7232 districts in Indonesia. Finally, as this paper is replete with academic research approaches and mathematical model perspectives, it is expected that the results may be a valuable input to the development of the country’s telecommunications policy.

Bridging the digital divide in Africa via universal service funds: an institutional theory perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for improving the implementation of universal service funds (USF) with a view to closing the digital divide in Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a qualitative approach that draws examples from various African countries supported by 25 interviews from key stakeholders with hands-on experience and roles that shape telecommunications policy in Africa and other developing countries.FindingsThe study's findings point out that institutional voids which characterize several African countries inhibit the effectiveness of USF in African countries. The authors identify several institutional and organisational factors and explain how they negatively affect the performance of USF. The authors find that in order to overcome these obstacles, there is a need for a clear redefinition of Universal Access and Service (UAS) policies, restructuring the governance of USF, encouraging cross-sectoral collaborations, and bottom-up initiatives to bridge the digital divide in African countries.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the underexplored USF literature by shedding light on the role of institutional factors in determining the success of USF. The paper thus complements and provides a different perspective on promoting digital inclusion in Africa from the viewpoint of institutional voids, bringing new insights into the existing literature on how to deal with an intractable area of UAS policy and the wider digital divide debate in developing countries.

Telecommunications regulation, mobile money innovations and financial inclusion

PurposeThis study aims to assess how corporate telecommunication (telecom) policies follow telecom sector regulation in mobile money innovation for financial inclusion in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachTelecom policies are understood in terms of mobile subscriptions, mobile connectivity coverage and mobile connectivity performance, whereas mobile money innovations represent mobile money accounts, the mobile used to send money and the mobile used to receive money. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions.FindingsTelecom sector regulation positively influences mobile money innovations. From net influences, mobile subscriptions and connectivity policies moderate telecom sector regulation to positively influence mobile money innovations, exclusively within the remit of mobile money accounts because the corresponding net influences on the mobile used to send money and the mobile used to receive money are negative. The interactive influences are consistently negative, and hence, thresholds for complementary policies are provided to maintain the positive influence of telecom sector regulation on mobile money innovations.Originality/valueThis study has complemented the extant literature by assessing how corporate telecommunication policies follow telecommunication sector regulation in mobile money innovations for financial inclusion.

A Study Of The Factors Influencing The Acquisition And Retention Of Customers In The Indian Telecommunications Industry: Systematic Analysis Using The SPSS Model

The purpose of this article is to discover the important factors that influence the acquisition and retention of clients of Indian telecommunications carriers. The survey has been conducted to 54 respondents across Delhi NCR in line with the objective of the study has been conducted from 31 variables identified from various literature reviews. The 31 variables have been categorized into six factors such as service, support, CRM, price, network, and regulatory. Survey-based questionnaires were used to collect data for 54 respondents using Google Form. The study finds out that value added services, reliability of service factor, commitment of support factor, call rates and offers of pricing factor, network quality of network factor and telecom policy of regulatory factor significantly influencing customer acquisition and retention of Indian telecom companies. This study is of great benefit to university researchers, managers, and telecommunications practitioners.

Voices from Northern Canada: Integrating stakeholder expectations in telecommunications policy for rural, remote and Northern regions

In Canada, residents of rural, remote and Northern communities generally pay more for slower, less reliable, and more expensive telecommunications services compared to southern and urban residents. This situation is particularly concentrated in small-population, rural Indigenous communities located in the Northern territories. Over the last several decades, many public policy initiatives have attempted to develop telecommunications services, including high-speed broadband, in these underserved areas. However, Northern input into these initiatives and their outcomes has been limited — despite increasing evidence of the benefits of place-based planning, monitoring and evaluation processes. In this context we examine a recent public consultation about telecommunication services in these regions, focusing on expectations submitted by individual Northerners and by intermediary organizations representing their interests. Our analysis reveals distinct but complementary functions expressed by these different kinds of intervenors, which we suggest policymakers could take into consideration when planning consultations involving rural and remote regions.