Universal Telecommunications Service Research Articles

Are ICT and CO2 emissions always a win-win situation? Evidence from universal telecommunication service in China

The role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in mitigating climate change is increasingly gaining attention, yet its environmental performance remains uncertain. This ambiguity serves as the motivation for examining how universal telecommunication service (UTS) impacts CO2 emissions. Utilizing a staggered difference-in-difference (DID) specification, our empirical investigation reveals that UTS exacerbates CO2 emissions. A series of robustness checks corroborate these findings. The study uncovers the mechanisms underlying this environmental degradation, pinpointing increased energy consumption, the promotion of secondary industries, and population migration as the key contributing factors. Importantly, the analysis reveals that the negative environmental effects are particularly pronounced in cities with low-income and relatively lower levels of market integration. However, the study finds that well-designed environmental regulations can offset the negative impact of UTS on the environment. Given the urgent need for climate action, these findings provide critical insights for policymakers to balance the societal benefits of universal connectivity with environmental sustainability.

Rural digital infrastructure and labor market: Evidence from universal telecommunication service

AbstractThis study estimates the effects of the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure on rural employment and income. We use a triple‐difference framework and exploit the geographic variation of the recent universal telecommunication service in China. Empirical results reveal increased broadband adoption after the implementation of the program with governmental subsidy. The universal telecommunication service led to an increase in rural residents’ income and their employment in the non‐agricultural sector, especially salaried work. The findings suggest that digital infrastructure promotes the transformation of the rural economy in emerging markets.

Juggling ecumenical wisdoms and xenophobic institutions: Framing and modelling China's telecommunications universal service and rural digitalization initiatives and policies

China historically belongs to a farming civilization, in which rural population tended to stick to their farmlands for a lifetime. This situation has somehow been changing with, inter alia, the advancement and application of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In recent years, China has been pushing for the inclusion of its rural communities into modern information society through aggressively digitalizing its rural areas under a public policy umbrella. With the literature's lopsided focus on Western nations, a cohesive paradigm in mapping the Chinese style of universal service implementation remains elusive, a situation that has often obfuscated deeper understanding of the Chinese case from a socioeconomic, technological, or institutional perspective. The main purpose of this present paper lies in the framing and modelling of China's universal service and rural digitalization practices. The paper proposes and applies an integrated offer–agent–target (OAT) framework in a retrospective and empirical examination of the Chinese case and conceptual characterization of what has appeared to be the Chinese model. In so doing, China's universal service development is demarcated into discernible stages that are then pattern-matched with corresponding institutional landscapes. Three salient stages are identified and corresponding institutional landscapes explicated. Finally, insights and suggestions are offered that throws lights on the current issues and future developments.

보편요금제 도입이 이동통신시장에 미치는 영향분석

보편요금제는 통신비 인하를 목적으로 저가형 통신서비스를 사업자에게 규제하는 하나의 방편으로 작용하고 있다. 이런 보편요금제의 적절성을 판단하기 위해 본 연구는 이용자 관점에서 보편요금제 도입에 관한 설문조사와 로짓모형을 활용해 분석함으로써 보편요금제 선택에 있어 결정적인 요인을 찾아내기 위한 목적에서 수행되었다. 1,350명에 이르는 20~59세 사이의 남녀노소를 대상으로 진행된 설문조사 결과를 바탕으로 일반적인 통계 및 로짓모형을 분석하였다. 통계분석 결과를 살펴보면, 이동통신서비스 이용자 중 절반 이상이 보편요금제를 인식하고 있으며, 현재 이용 중인 요금제를 보편요금제로 변경하려는 긍정적인 움직임도 파악되었다. 이는 통신서비스 규제 측면에서 긍정적인 의미를 가진다고 생각된다. 다만 동일 가격대에서 통신사업자별 요금제 선택과 보편요금제 수용 의향에 있어서 큰 차이를 보이지 않는 것으로 나타남에 따라 현재의 보편요금제 상품 구성적 측면에서 데이터 비중을 높이는 변화를 통해 서비스 활성화를 유도할 필요가 있다고 보인다.

The Eye of the Beholder: Participation and Impact in Telecommunications (De)Regulation

The California Public Utilities Commission addressed both pricing deregulation and universal service in telecommunications during the last decade. Both decisions had a similar cast of characters, and similarly elaborate processes. In relation to price deregulation, the utilities positions were accepted on every issue addressed; in relation to universal service, consumer organizations’ positions were accepted in about 60% of the issues. This article tells the story of how those decisions were made, and examines the reasons for the difference in impact. The article examines and reject an explanation of capture; accepts in part a focus on the influence of the commissioner in charge of the decision; and suggests that the most important factor in determining impact was the perceptions and expectations of CPUC Commissioners and staff, reminding us of the importance of agency personal and their profound impact on regulatory results.

It's Time: Reimaging Universal Service for Digital Life

This article provides a brief introduction to a timely set of papers critically discussing universal service in telecommunications and proposing policy option. This is a longstanding public policy issue, moving once more into the foreground in Australia. The article puts the papers into context, and argues for the need to reconnect universal service policy with fertile and productive research, policy, social and technology innovation in other areas. Finally, the paper argues for the urgent need to fundamentally reimagine universal service to achieve the still relevant goal of access for all to essential communications technology.

It's Time: Reimaging Universal Service for Digital Life

This article provides a brief introduction to a timely set of papers critically discussing universal service in telecommunications and proposing policy option. This is a longstanding public policy issue, moving once more into the foreground in Australia. The article puts the papers into context, and argues for the need to reconnect universal service policy with fertile and productive research, policy, social and technology innovation in other areas. Finally, the paper argues for the urgent need to fundamentally reimagine universal service to achieve the still relevant goal of access for all to essential communications technology.

Mexico's Universal Telecommunications Service Policies and Regulatory Environment in an International Perspective, 1990–2010

Abstract What happens to “universal service” commitments when there is a weak institutional framework and a marked imbalance of power between the regulatory authorities and the dominant telecom operators? Commitments are abandoned and service breaks down, according to the author. Using Telmex in Mexico as a case study, and using national, regional, and international comparative data, she builds econometric models that indicate shortcomings in the design and enforcement of telecommunications policies and regulations. These account for the gap in coverage for Mexico's lower-income population.

Mexico's Universal Telecommunications Service Policies and Regulatory Environment in an International Perspective, 1990–2010

AbstractWhat happens to “universal service” commitments when there is a weak institutional framework and a marked imbalance of power between the regulatory authorities and the dominant telecom operators? Commitments are abandoned and service breaks down, according to the author. Using Telmex in Mexico as a case study, and using national, regional, and international comparative data, she builds econometric models that indicate shortcomings in the design and enforcement of telecommunications policies and regulations. These account for the gap in coverage for Mexico's lower-income population.

Universal service in Turkey: Recent developments and a critical assessment

The meaning of universal service in telecommunications has changed considerably in the last decade. Technological advances have created the necessity to redefine the legal framework. While the demand for old universal services falls, new and wider services are to be included in the scope of legal obligations such as broadband. In this transformation of public policy toward universal services, political preferences take precedence over economic considerations. Turkey provides a good case in point. In this paper, the authors assess the legal framework of universal services and its institutional structure in Turkey. The tension between enlarging the scope of universal service and pressures on using revenues efficiently is emphasized.

Universal Telecommunications Services: A brief history and analysis of the issues surrounding the new Australian legislation on the Universal Service Obligation

Universal Telecommunications Services: A brief history and analysis of the issues surrounding the new Australian legislation on the Universal Service Obligation

Universal telecommunications service for the 21st century

Universal telecommunications service for the 21st century

Universal Service in China and India: Legitimating the State?

Universal Service in China and India: Legitimating the State?

Analysing Quality of Service in UMTS

of the Quality of Service (QoS) in the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network has been done using different parameters. UMTS is a universal telecommunication service which is more popularly known as 3G. It uses Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) techniques inculcating internet protocol, urban terrestrial and radio air interfaces. Thus, resources used here also allow lower generation services. It provides better speed, security, bandwidth utilization etc. Quality of Service is analyzed by changing the value of the precedence bit of the CBR application. The values of the precedence bits that have been taken are 0, 1, 4 and 6. The comparison has been done on the basis of throughput, average end to end delay etc.

Regulatory Competition and Accountability: Comparing Universal Service in Telecommunications in Australia and Taiwan*

The recent trend of transforming regulatory bureaus into independent agencies has raised concerns over accountability once the regulator is cut loose from political control. There is also concern that the promotion of public values may be at risk when the regulatory function is outsourced to a mission‐limited independent agency. To find possible solutions to these problems, this study compares the provision of telecommunications universal service in Australia with that in Taiwan to determine how different accountability designs lead to different means of ensuring universal service provision. Following a detailed investigation, this article finds that the consumer sovereignty model used in Australia performs better than the fiduciary trusteeship model in Taiwan in constraining the capture of the regulator by the dominant carrier. Overall, the author argues that, as a social goal, ensuring universal service should rely on both a politically mandated institution and competing regulatory agencies that accommodate different value groups so that a line is drawn between the social and commercial spheres.

Deregulation, privatisation and public service delivery: Universal service in telecommunications in Europe

This paper argues that the re-emergence of a universal service debate is a political reaction to the deregulation process and an attempt to force the role of the state and public services higher on the agenda at EU level. To this end, the concepts of ‘service public’ and ‘public services’ are explored in light of telecommunication deregulation and public service provision as expressed by the universal service obligation (USO) in France, Great Britain, Belgium and Norway. Attention is paid to the importance of securing general access to telecommunications. Findings suggest the legitimating effect of USO is greater than its practical effects, and that market, competition, and technology have largely addressed problems with universal access, equality, continuity and affordability, rather than regulations. Further, future regulations of universal service provision and ‘service public’ requirements will need to address concerns over citizens’ dislike of some effects of regional and national deregulation and liberalisation policies.

Telecommunications universal service in Finland

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how the objectives of telecommunications universal service have been achieved in Finland, largely without any formal universal service regulation.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is a historical one, showing the evolution over time of service take‐up and use, as well as legislative changes. A range of people were interviewed with first‐hand knowledge of the development of Finland's telecommunications sector, and drew on a range of published data sources.FindingsFixed telephony is now used by a minority of households in Finland, having been superseded by mobile and broadband. The paper finds that the European framework, which Finland was required to adopt added no value to previous practices. The potential for any losses due to universal service to be financed by the state in fact has created an adverse investment incentive.Originality/valueSince universal service has been a “non‐issue” in Finland, this is thought to be the first attempt to describe how universal service has in fact been achieved there. Besides displaying aspects of the Finnish experience that other countries could learn from, the paper raises a number of useful questions for policy makers.

Telecommunications universal service in France

PurposeThe paper aims to show how the introduction of the concept of universal service in the French telecommunications sector was impacted by the existence of a strong national tradition of public services. It also aims to show that universal service, as it is defined by the European telecom regulatory framework, was not the only possible set‐up. It also seeks to show how the concept of universal service was adapted to the French national situation and spread beyond the telecommunications sector.Design/methodology/approachThe approach of the paper is chronological, starting with an analysis of the French tradition of public services and then showing how the discussion developed in France on the topic of universal service in the telecommunications sector. Then the paper deals with the practical implementation of universal service in the telecommunications sector and other sectors in France.FindingsThe paper shows that even though the French traditional views on public services did not make it easy to implement the European version of universal service in the telecommunications sector, it nevertheless happened. Universal service even spread beyond the telecommunications sector in France.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper concentrates on French views on the topic and does not study the opinions of other stakeholders (the European Commission, other member states) as regards the French national tradition of public services.Practical implicationsThe paper can be used as a guide to ongoing discussions on the evolution of universal service in Europe as it provides alternate views on the topic.Originality/valueThe paper provides a comprehesive review of the topic.

Reverse Auctions and Universal Telecommunications Service: Lessons from Global Experience

The United States now spends around $7 billion on universal service programs-subsidies intended to ensure that the entire country has access to telecommunications services. Most of this money supports telecommunications service in high cost (primarily rural) areas, and the High Cost fund is growing quickly. In response to this growth, policymakers are considering using reverse auctions, or bids for the minimum subsidy, as a way to reduce expenditures. While the U.S. has not yet distributed funds for universal service programs using reverse auctions, the method has been used widely. First, reverse auctions are akin to standard government procurement procedures, which call for firms to bid on government contracts to keep prices down. Sending contracts out for bid is common in both simple and complex government contracting. Second, many countries around the world have used reverse auctions for distributing universal funds. This paper reviews global experiences with reverse auctions and discusses their implications for the U.S. In particular, I review reverse auctions in Australia, Chile, Colombia, India, Nepal, and Peru. Not all of the auctions were successful, but they clearly demonstrate that reverse auctions can be an effective tool for revealing information about the true cost of providing universal coverage and for reducing expenditures on subsidies.

Future funding of the telecommunications universal service obligations in Australia

Future funding of the telecommunications universal service obligations in Australia