How developing countries regulate ICTs
The Regulators
- Parliament
- Ministry (PTT, Communications, Infrastructure)
- Regulatory authority (often ~"independent")
The Regulated
- State-owned telecom (typically with wireline monopoly)
- Competitive (typically wireless) telecoms
- Internet service providers (ISPs)
The Infrastructure
- Public switched telephone network (PSTN), radio spectrum (WiFi frequencies),
fiberoptic links, VSAT satellite links, international gateways
The Services
- Telephony, data, interconnection (prices, access conditions & requirements), international connectivity, VOIP
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Focus on Ghana I
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The Regulators:
- Telecommunications Law
- Vague on many key issues
- Ministry of Communications
- Responsibility for Ghanaian government's majority stake in Ghana Telecom
- National Communications Authority
- Purportedly "independent"
- Very close to Ghana Telecom
- Chair is Minister of Communications
- Record of ignoring anticompetitive behavior by Ghana Telecom
The Regulated
" Wireline telecoms (50,000+ lines):
" Ghana Telecom (majority state-owned)
" dominant wireline provider + control of fiber cable access
" partially privatized, then effectively renationalized
" management contracted out to Norway's Telenor
" increasingly desperate financial situation
" 7000 employees for 50,000 lines
" reportedly lost US$30m last year, mostly due to decreases in international calling revenue
" Westel (newly licensed wireline competitor)
" not really a significant force yet)
" less than 5% of GT's number of lines
" Wireless telecoms (220,000+ subscribers)
" Two major GSM providers, one of which is owned by GT
" Internet service providers (ISPs)
" Numerous ISPs; vigorous competition
" Totally unable to cooperate; lots of bitter rivalries
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