Telecommunications and economic development

Abstract

This revised edition: (a) reviews the available evidence on the role of telecommunications in economic development; (b) outlines the principles and techniques of economic analysis that can be used in allocating telecommunications investment for economic development; and (c) connects this field to the rapidly growing literature on reforming the telecommunications sector. This revised and expanded edition updates previous statistical tables and adds new tables; replaces and expands case material to reflect recent experiences; incorporates material on pricing that emphasizes practical approaches to setting tariffs and that reflects the shift of regulatory attention from costs to prices; and revises material on technology and costs to reflect the fast pace of innovation.