IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/telpol/v41y2017i7p617-630.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impediments to the implementation of universal service funds in Africa – A cross-country comparative analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Ogiemwonyi Arakpogun, Emmanuel
  • Wanjiru, Roseline
  • Whalley, Jason

Abstract

The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has undoubtedly contributed to the spread and adoption of mobile telephony across Africa but evidence also points to the fact that coverage gaps persist in some locations - mainly rural and remote areas - which are either unserved or underserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Ogiemwonyi Arakpogun, Emmanuel & Wanjiru, Roseline & Whalley, Jason, 2017. "Impediments to the implementation of universal service funds in Africa – A cross-country comparative analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 617-630.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:41:y:2017:i:7:p:617-630
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2017.05.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596117301957
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.telpol.2017.05.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xia, Jun, 2016. "Universal service policy in China (II): Case study and institutional variables," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 253-264.
    2. Blackman, Colin R, 1995. "Universal service: obligation or opportunity?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 171-176, April.
    3. Xavier, Patrick, 0. "Universal service and public access in the networked society," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(9-10), pages 829-843, November.
    4. Jenny C. Aker & Isaac M. Mbiti, 2010. "Mobile Phones and Economic Development in Africa," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 207-232, Summer.
    5. Levin, Stanford L., 0. "Universal service and targeted support in a competitive telecommunications environment," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1-2), pages 92-97, February.
    6. McCormick, Patricia K., 2005. "The African telecommunications union: A Pan-African approach to telecommunications reform," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 529-548, August.
    7. Mueller, Milton, 1993. "Universal service in telephone history : A reconstruction," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 352-369, July.
    8. Vivien Foster & Cecilia Briceno-Garmendia, 2010. "Africa's Infrastructure : A Time for Transformation [Infrastructures africaines]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2692, December.
    9. Milne, Claire, 1998. "Stages of universal service policy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(9), pages 775-780, October.
    10. Gebreab, Frew Amare, 2002. "Getting connected : competition and diffusion in African mobile telecommunications markets," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2863, The World Bank.
    11. Sanford V. Berg & Michael G. Pollitt (ed.), 2002. "Private Initiatives in Infrastructure," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2727.
    12. Crosby, Benjamin L., 1996. "Policy implementation: The organizational challenge," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(9), pages 1403-1415, September.
    13. Hudson, Heather, 1994. "Universal service in the information age," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(8), pages 658-667, November.
    14. Xia, Jun, 2016. "Universal service policy in China (I): Institutional elements and ecosystem," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 242-252.
    15. Penelope J. Brook & Timothy C. Irwin, 2003. "Infrastructure for Poor People : Public Policy for Private Provision," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15159, December.
    16. Thomas, John W. & Grindle, Merilee S., 1990. "After the decision: Implementing policy reforms in developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 18(8), pages 1163-1181, August.
    17. Madden, Gary, 0. "Economic welfare and universal service," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1-2), pages 110-116, February.
    18. Gillwald, Alison, 2005. "Good intentions, poor outcomes: Telecommunications reform in South Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 469-491, August.
    19. Nett, Lorenz, 1998. "An alternative approach to allocate universal service obligations," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(8), pages 661-669, September.
    20. Srinuan, Chalita, 2014. "Uncertainty of public pay phone in Thailand: Implications for the universal service obligation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 730-740.
    21. Dordick, Herbert S., 1990. "The origins of universal service : History as a determinant of telecommunications policy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 223-231, June.
    22. Alleman, James & Rappoport, Paul & Banerjee, Aniruddha, 0. "Universal service: A new definition?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1-2), pages 86-91, February.
    23. Hasbi, Maude, 2015. "Universal service obligations and public payphone use: Is regulation still necessary in the era of mobile telephony?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 421-435.
    24. Jain, Rekha & Raghuram, G., 2009. "Role of Universal Service Obligation Fund in Rural Telecom Services: Lessons from the Indian Experience," IIMA Working Papers WP2009-06-03, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    25. Hopestone Kayiska Chavula, 2013. "Telecommunications development and economic growth in Africa," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 5-23, January.
    26. Peter Curwen & Jason Whalley, 2014. "Mobile Telecommunications Networks," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15816.
    27. Clarke, George R.G. & Wallsten, Scott J., 2002. "Universal(ly bad) service - providing infrastructure services to rural and poor urban consumers," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2868, The World Bank.
    28. Thai, Do Manh & Falch, Morten & Williams, Idongesit, 2015. "The Role Of Stakeholders On Implementing Universal Services In Vietnam," 26th European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2015 127184, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    29. Ojo, Tokunbo, 2016. "Global agenda and ICT4D in Africa: Constraints of localizing ‘universal norm’," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 704-713.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Arakpogun, Emmanuel Ogiemwonyi & Elsahn, Ziad & Nyuur, Richard B. & Olan, Femi, 2020. "Threading the needle of the digital divide in Africa: The barriers and mitigations of infrastructure sharing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    2. Jahanbakht, Mohammad & Mostafa, Romel, 2020. "Coevolution of policy and strategy in the development of the mobile telecommunications industry in Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    3. Hanafizadeh, Payam & Khosravi, Bayan & Badie, Kambiz, 2019. "Global discourse on ICT and the shaping of ICT policy in developing countries," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 324-338.
    4. Edward J. Oughton & Ashutosh Jha, 2021. "Supportive 5G Infrastructure Policies are Essential for Universal 6G: Assessment using an Open-source Techno-economic Simulation Model utilizing Remote Sensing," Papers 2102.08086, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2021.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xia, Jun, 2022. "Juggling ecumenical wisdoms and xenophobic institutions: Framing and modelling China's telecommunications universal service and rural digitalization initiatives and policies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(2).
    2. Thai, Do Manh & Falch, Morten, 2018. "Universal service in Vietnam: An institutional approach," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 323-332.
    3. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu & Aqsa Aziz, 2018. "Determinants of Mobile Phone Penetration: Panel Threshold Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 81-110, April.
    4. Xia, Jun, 2016. "Universal service policy in China (I): Institutional elements and ecosystem," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 242-252.
    5. Jahanbakht, Mohammad & Mostafa, Romel, 2020. "Coevolution of policy and strategy in the development of the mobile telecommunications industry in Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    6. Elizabeth A. Mack & Tony H. Grubesic, 2014. "US broadband policy and the spatio-temporal evolution of broadband markets," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(3), pages 291-308, August.
    7. Nucciarelli, Alberto & Sadowski, Bert M. & Ruhle, Ernst-Olav, 2012. "Should next generation access networks fall within the scope of universal service? A EU 27 perspective," 23rd European Regional ITS Conference, Vienna 2012 60393, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    8. Loo, Becky P.Y. & Ngan, Y.L., 2012. "Developing mobile telecommunications to narrow digital divide in developing countries? Some lessons from China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 888-900.
    9. Nakamura, Akihiro, 2013. "Retaining telecommunication services when universal service is defined by functionality: Japanese consumers' willingness-to-pay," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 662-672.
    10. Simplice Asongu & Agyenim Boateng, 2018. "Introduction to Special Issue: Mobile Technologies and Inclusive Development in Africa," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 297-301, July.
    11. Liu, Chun & Wang, Lian, 2021. "Who is left behind? Exploring the characteristics of China's broadband non-adopting families," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9).
    12. Devkar, Ganesh A. & Mahalingam, Ashwin & Deep, Akash & Thillairajan, A., 2013. "Impact of Private Sector Participation on access and quality in provision of electricity, telecom and water services in developing countries: A systematic review," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 65-81.
    13. Thorsten Beck & Samuel Munzele Maimbo & Issa Faye & Thouraya Triki, 2011. "Financing Africa : Through the Crisis and Beyond," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2355, December.
    14. Ewig, Christina & Palmucci, Gastón A., 2012. "Inequality and the Politics of Social Policy Implementation: Gender, Age and Chile’s 2004 Health Reforms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(12), pages 2490-2504.
    15. Nour, S., 2014. "The impact of ICT in public and private universities in Sudan," MERIT Working Papers 2014-018, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    16. Molla, Alemayehu & Biru, Ashenafi, 2023. "The evolution of the Fintech entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa: An exploratory study and model for future development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    17. Sajda Qureshi & Lotfollah Najjar, 2017. "Information and communications technology use and income growth: evidence of the multiplier effect in very small island states," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 212-234, April.
    18. Onalenna Seitio-Kgokgwe & Robin D. C. Gauld & Philip C. Hill & Pauline Barnett, 2016. "Redesigning a Ministry of Health's organizational structure: exploring implementation challenges through Botswana's experiences," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 191-207, April.
    19. Vivien Foster & José Luis Guasch & Luis Andrés & Thomas Haven, 2008. "The Impact of Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure: Lights, Shadows, and the Road Ahead," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 59818, February.
    20. Xiaoqian Zhang & Feng Yang, 2019. "Rural informatization policy evolution in China: a bibliometric study," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(1), pages 129-153, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:41:y:2017:i:7:p:617-630. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30471/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.