Mobile Cellular Telephone: Fixed-Line Substitution in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mobile cellular telephones have been the success story of communications globally. In the developed world, mobile telephony is traditionally seen as being complementary to fixed-line telephony, primarily because of its pervasiveness but also because the fixed-line network provides access to other technologies such as broadband. This article finds that, in nine African countries, in contrast to the developed world, mobile telephony is a substitute for fixed-line telephony – across all income groups and not just low income households as previously thought. The article argues in addition that pre-paid payment options (not just for mobile phones) are key to increasing use by low income households because irregular incomes do not support regular financial commitments in terms of contracts

Case notes: South Africa's policy incoherence: An update on the Knysna Wi-Fi project

T: In the past, the main obstacle against building network infrastructure was the cost. Technological advances, however, have meant that building a functional, low-cost network is possible. Knysna is the first municipality in South Africa to achieve this. The problem is not the infrastructure but the connection to the larger networks of the mobile and fixed-line operators. The incumbents’ incentives are to prevent interconnection (or at least to delay it) on the basis of maintaining their dominance. In the telecommunications sector in South Africa, the only way to overcome this problem is via regulation. Yet regulation has to balance two sometimes competing interests – investment in infrastructure and competition. The Knysna Uni-Fi project has operated outside of any enabling regulation for competition and investment and this has negatively impacted upon its commercial success. Any regulatory intervention imposed upon the market has to balance the interests of competition and investment. In the South African market, given the huge dominance by the incumbents, that balance must change to favour new entrants. Until this takes place Knysna is not a replicable model for South Africa

Freemium Internet: Next Generation Business Model to connect next billion

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 applications provide basic functions and more advanced functions are available by paying a fee. We examine the impact of applying the freemium business model to the provision of mobile Internet access and discuss net neutrality issues, mobile operator strategies, benefits for consumers, and the potential impact on government e-service programmes. The paper further investigates policy options and regulatory incentives to facilitate the adoption of Freemium Internet

Towards an African e-index : 2007 telecommunications sector performance in 16 African countries; a supply side analysis of policy outcomes

This sector performance review across 16 African countries is part of a multi-pronged research strategy undertaken by Research ICT Africa (RIA), a continent-wide ICT policy and regulation research network. It reveals linkages between policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, the arising market structures and their impact on consumers and users of telecommunications. The Telecommunications Regulatory Environment survey attempts to measure perceptions of all stakeholders of the key regulatory processes in each country. The report also provides a unique review of pricing regimes across the continent. Mobile telephony is the main means of voice communication in Africa

Airtime to cash : unlocking the potential of Africa's mobile phones to bank the unbanked

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright ActThe paper explores how mobile phones may be used to extend banking services to the ‘unbanked.’ Few individuals in the informal sector have access to collateral and either have their own informal small businesses (such as street vendors) or work for small informal businesses on an ad hoc basis. Mobile banking could be transformational for informal businesses and the poor if they are able to access micro-loans and other formal financial services