While the importance of both broadband itself and its speed increases in a whole society, the high cost of providing broadband as universal service at high speed still raises a question of whether to introduce the USO. Therefore, the introduction of broadband universal service at 100Mbps since...

This chapter deals with the imposition and execution of universal service obligations on licensees, which was a key component of South Africa’s telecommunications reform policy and legislative framework. Rollout and connectivity targets were imposed on the fixed-line (soon to be partially...

This chapter deals with the establishment of South Africa’s universal service fund, the country’s second major international best practice intervention aimed at providing universal access and service. The institutional arrangements governing the Fund, how contributions were levied, collected...

This paper reproduces a chapter from the author’s 2018 PhD thesis ‘The Digital Donga: Universal Access and Service in South Africa (1994 - 2014)’. The author’s subsequent book Regulating Telecommunications in SA: Universal Access & Service was published by Palgrave Press in 2020, and can...

The mobile market has experienced a huge surge in growth across the globe. However, mobile network operators are still struggling to extend coverage to rural areas. Universal Service would appear to be an emerging concept; the reason for this is that Universal Service aims to support the telecom...

Die digitale Teilhabe über einen schnellen Internetzugang an einem festen Standort ist für die Bürger eines Landes essentiell. Die soziale Teilhabe über Social Media, die Erledigung von Alltagsdingen wie Online Einkäufe, Online Banking aber auch Homeoffice in Form von Teleworking über...

Regulators have long been aware of the social aspects of communication. In the past, regulated monopolists have provided Universal Service Obligations, typically funded via a system of cross-subsidies. In this paper, we first review the rationale for imposing Universal Service Obligations, based...

The rise of e-commerce platforms in the parcel delivery markets -- Parcel locker stations: The future of e-commerce delivery? -- Regulation: Quo Vadis? Revisited. -- “Is Postal Service a Natural Monopoly?”:A 30-year retrospective on Panzar’s seminal paper" -- The first tests of the SGEI...

In this research, we estimated the number of possible subscribers of the public switched telephone network (hereafter, referred to as "PSTN") in the future of Japan based on the public data, and evaluated the alternatives as the candidates for the migration by comparative analysis, with respect...

Purpose - The paper looks at the formulation of the BMGF-VN project to examine which actors participated in the formulation of this project, how their interests were translated into this project, and what lessons may be drawn for the formulation and implementation of universal service policy in...

Over the last decade or so, access to broadband telecommunication services has become increasingly important. Through broadband, households and companies are able to engage with the informationbased economy that is emerging, through, for example, buying and selling online or using social media....

While the importance of both broadband itself and its speed increases in a whole society, the high cost of providing broadband as universal service at high speed still raises a question of whether to introduce the USO. Therefore, the introduction of broadband universal service at 100Mbps since...

The book addresses the most recent challenges faced by the postal and delivery sector. This book includes original essays by prominent researchers and practitioners in the field of postal and delivery economics, originally presented at the 28th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics held...

A sustainable and resilient economy is one that enables every individual to have full and equal access to what she/he needs to live a sufficient and flourishing life. Post-war welfare states went some way towards achieving such access, but they have been heavily undermined, both ideologically...

Chapter 1. Competition in the Postal and Delivery Markets in Europe -- Chapter 2. The Game Theory of Cartels in the Postal Industry -- Chapter 3. When a price cost test is unnecessary for assessing pricing abuses - the Royal Mail case -- Chapter 4. Data and the regulation of e-commerce: data...

In several markets, firms compete not for consumer expenditure but consumer attention. We examine user priorities over the allocation of their time, and interpret that behavior in light of policy discussions over universal service, data caps, and related policy topics, such as merger analysis....

The mobile market has experienced a huge surge in growth across the globe. However, mobile network operators are still struggling to extend coverage to rural areas. Universal Service would appear to be an emerging concept; the reason for this is that Universal Service aims to support the telecom...

A number of formerly regulated multiproduct industries have a transitional or permanent residual regulatory mandate to protect consumers from "excessive" prices. The legislation that deregulated most rail rates contains a statutory mandate for the regulator to protect shippers from "excessive"...

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...

A number of formerly regulated multiproduct industries have a transitional or permanent residual regulatory mandate to protect consumers from "excessive" prices. The legislation that deregulated most rail rates contains a statutory mandate for the regulator to protect shippers from "excessive"...

A number of formerly regulated multiproduct industries have a transitional or permanent residual regulatory mandate to protect consumers from "excessive" prices. The legislation that deregulated most rail rates contains a statutory mandate for the regulator to protect shippers from "excessive"...

The authors summarize the main lessons emerging from Argentina's experience, including universal service obligations in concession contracts. They discuss free-riding risks, moral hazard problems, and other issues that arise when social concerns are delegated to private operators. After...

This paper analyses a business model for providing free basic-rate Internet to everyone with a data capable phone, living in mobile coverage areas. The model is called Freemium Internet. The term "freemium" refers to a well-known business model for digital services, where free services or...

In this research, we estimated the number of possible subscribers of the public switched telephone network (hereafter, referred to as “PSTN”) in the future of Japan based on the public data, and evaluated the alternatives as the candidates for the migration by comparative analysis, with...

This paper analyses a business model for providing free basic-rate Internet to everyone with a data capable phone, living in mobile coverage areas. The model is called Freemium Internet. The term "freemium" refers to a well-known business model for digital services, where free services or...

Over the last decade or so, access to broadband telecommunication services has become increasingly important. Through broadband, households and companies are able to engage with the informationbased economy that is emerging, through, for example, buying and selling online or using social media....

Purpose - The paper looks at the formulation of the BMGF-VN project to examine which actors participated in the formulation of this project, how their interests were translated into this project, and what lessons may be drawn for the formulation and implementation of universal service policy in...

Chapter 1. Postal and Electronic Communications services: together again? -- Chapter 2. Potential Insights for U.S. USO from recent Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Auctions -- Chapter 3. Postal Services. Quo Vadis? -- Chapter 4. How the fragmentation of the postal supply chain...

This book addresses major issues facing postal and delivery services throughout the world. Worldwide, there is currently a considerable amount of interest in postal and delivery economics. The industry is reacting to a state of near crisis and is implementing different drastic changes. The...

The use of Universal Service funding is in theory market friendly and complements liberalisation and competition. However, in practice, particularly in the context of roll out of national broadband networks, the design of USF interventions can do much harm to the telecommunications sector by...

Developing countries often strive to extend basic telecommunications services to rural and remote areas. Wealthier nations sometimes face similar challenges with other services. This paper proposes a novel policy to motivate private-sector operators of basic infrastructure to expand...

The structural changes that come with privatization may induce a reconsideration of the regulations defined during the early stages of privatization.Chisari and Estache summarize the main lessons emerging from Argentina's experience, including universal service obligations in concession...

Estache, Laffont, and Zhang develop a model to analyze the effects of asymmetric information on optimal universal service policy in the public utilities of developing countries. Optimal universal service policy is implemented using two regulatory instruments - pricing and network investment....