Thesis (M.M. (ICT Policy and Regulation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development, 2013. / This research study investigates challenges affecting the supply and demand side
factors of the broadband ecosystem that hinder the market development of broadband
in rural areas in South Africa and how policy and regulation has affected the
evolution of the broadband ecosystem in rural areas.
Although the elements of the broadband ecosystem are strong and well placed in
urban areas, not all elements of the broadband ecosystem in rural areas are in place
and equally strong. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the different elements
of the broadband ecosystem in rural areas are unknown and demand and supply side
factors are not understood. Hence the broadband policy may not be based on a full
understanding of the complex ecosystem.
The study points to a classic case of market failure that exists in rural areas in
relation to the broadband market development. The study identifies that a
governance framework, investment management framework, universal access
funding model, sufficient frequency spectrum resources, policies and regulation that
specifically address the development of the broadband market in rural areas are
lacking.
Although the barriers and gaps identified in this study are known to the industry this
research study goes further to corroborate from an academic research perspective the
existence of these barriers that are affecting the broadband market development of
rural areas.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/12900 |
| Date | 25 July 2013 |
| Creators | Macharia, Caroline Wangari |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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