The Chinese model of universal service policy: A two-decade retrospect based on an integrated framework

Over the past two decades China has achieved eye-catching development in the provision of telephone and Internet services in its vast rural areas. With the literature's lopsided focus on Western nations, a cohesive paradigm in mapping the Chinese style of universal service policy remains elusive, a situation that has often obfuscated deeper understanding of the Chinese case. This present paper proposes and applies an integrated offer–agent–target (OAT) framework in a retrospective and empirical examination of China's universal service practices and characterization of what has appeared to be the Chinese model. In so doing, China's universal service development is demarcated into discernible stages which are then matched with corresponding institutional landscapes. Three stages are identified and corresponding institutional landscapes explicated. Finally, implications are discussed and policy suggestions are made for the Chinese policy-maker.