"This study analyses the costs of connecting to the Internet and providing Internet services in Nigeria for fibre-optic network connectivity, microwave links, mobile broadband cellular links, and cellular communications. The analysis has focused on the capital expenditure (capex) of telecommunicatio
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n equipment, including cost elements such as taxation and licence fees in addition to operational expenditure (opex) in terms of network operation and maintenance costs, including recurring licensing fees.
In terms of report structure, section 1 sets out the background and scope, focusing on key assumptions used and key stakeholders involved. Section 2 looks at the study approach with a specific emphasis on research methodology and scenarios on cost analysis while section 3 analyses the capex and opex for mobile network operators, infrastructure companies, Internet service providers and satellite network operators. Section 4 considers the regulatory framework, especially the key policy instruments affecting the cost of doing business. Section 5 presents recommendations, and the overall conclusions.
The information presented here, builds on and complements the ongoing work of ITU on connectivity and infrastructure mapping and analysis. This technical study has a significant link to universal connectivity as ICT infrastructure remains key to bringing everyone online by 2030. This work will therefore help to shape infrastructure strategies to bring meaningful connectivity to the underserved or unconnected communities.
The study shows clearly that lower capital and operating costs can be achieved by creating a conducive regulatory framework of laws, policies, guidelines and an enabling environment in Nigeria and shows how the development of telecommunications is largely driven by elements such as the costs associated with infrastructure sharing, taxation, electricity availability, ands right of way charges." (Executive summary)
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"Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face unique development challenges. Higher transportation costs, trade barriers, and limited connectivity impede economic integration. LLDCs rely on neighbouring countries for access to trade routes, resulting in delays and higher costs. These countries also
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tend to lag in investment, limiting resources available for infrastructure and human capital development. Together, these factors undermine competitiveness and slow development. Digital technologies offer transformative potential for LLDCs. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can mitigate physical barriers by enabling access to global markets, improving logistics and public services, and expanding education and entrepreneurship opportunities. When combined with enabling policies and investment, they can accelerate structural transformation." (Introduction)
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"In 2011, working with the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA),1 the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in cooperation with the European Commission (EC) published a toolkit on universal access funding and universal service implementation to provide guidance o
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n how to establish, manage and ensure good governance of universal access and service funds. It also offered advice on sources of traditional and new financing mechanisms with relevant good practices and country experiences.
[.] Over the past decade, countries have taken different approaches to universal access and service funding. Ongoing, and in some cases worsened, socio-economic conditions have meant bridging the digital divide is more difficult – the Covid-19 pandemic, systemic poverty and global political uncertainty have all taken a toll.
By the end of 2023, of the 14 CRASA Member States, all part of the Southern African Development Community known as “SADC”, 11 had reported having operational access and service funds. In these countries, laws have been passed establishing funds and setting out specific mandates, the scope of funding, eligible beneficiaries and the governance frameworks for fund operations. The toolkit has been updated to reflect ICT sector changes, such as the evolution of universal access and service, and a wider scope of universal access funding that now covers not only connectivity but also adoption, innovation, and inclusivity. The revised SADC toolkit also addresses the different institutional and legal setups across CRASA Member States and the diverse roles and responsibilities of fund managers. Some of the challenges experienced by fund managers and how these could be addressed are also considered." (Summary)
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"The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development welcomes stakeholders and partners to work on achieving universal and meaningful connectivity by 2030, to ensure not just connectivity, but also that those who are connected have the skills and knowledge to use it. Five considerations for the roa
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d ahead: 1. Defining (and re-defining) measurable goals for “universal meaningful connectivity” to meet today’s needs. 2. Close the Usage Gap by addressing key barriers to people adopting and using the Internet where coverage is available. 3. Broaden contributor base and implement creative funding approaches, including incentivising infrastructure funding, reforming USAF approaches. 4. Alignment and incentivizing funding contributors is key for government connectivity plans, mobilizing all sectors’ pools of capital by removing challenges and barriers to network infrastructure investment. 5. Build network infrastructure policies to last with sustainable and agile plans." (Executive summary)
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"As South Africa adopts reforms to further strengthen its economy across multiple sectors, this country review presents the policy, legislative, and governance frameworks that are enabling South Africa’s digital transformation. It includes a review of key institutions and collaborative digital reg
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ulation practices, as well as common themes related to digital sector policies and frameworks. This review draws on policy, legal, and regulatory instruments in place and it reflects the insights and challenges based on the research and analysis of official document, interviews conducted with public- and private-sector stakeholders and exchanges with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The report also leverages ITU resources, including the Unified framework to assess the state of readiness of policy, governance, and legal frameworks that are enabling digital transformation in South Africa. This country review concludes with high-level recommendations and suggested next steps for collaborative digital regulation and includes considerations of ongoing global discussions related to digital technologies and services." (Introduction)
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"In this special edition of ITU's Facts and Figures series, we explore the impressive progress and ongoing obstacles SIDS encounter amid the digital revolution. On the occasion of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), our goal is to provide stakeholders with
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accurate data to inform their decisions. The connectivity challenge has grown more complex over the last decade. It's insufficient to simply connect the unconnected. Universal and meaningful connectivity – the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching, productive and online experience at an affordable cost – is the new policy imperative to harness the potential of connectivity and enable digital transformation.
SIDS share common issues: remoteness, limited markets, narrow economic bases, and high costs for energy and infrastructure. Moreover, they are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, threatening their existence. Digital connectivity is crucial in mitigating these challenges by enabling access to information, facilitating communication, and creating economic opportunities. It can improve disaster response, management, and access to critical services, often constrained by geographic and resource limitations in SIDS. This publication offers a current view of SIDS connectivity and highlights gaps in our understanding, underscoring the urgent need for investment in data infrastructure and statistical capabilities as part of their development strategies." (Foreword)
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"The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development welcomes stakeholders and partners to work on achieving universal and meaningful connectivity by 2030, to ensure not just connectivity, but also that those who are connected have the skills and knowledge to use it. Five considerations for the roa
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d ahead: 1. Defining (and re-defining) measurable goals for “universal meaningful connectivity” to meet today’s needs. 2. Close the Usage Gap by addressing key barriers to people adopting and using the Internet where coverage is available. 3. Broaden contributor base and implement creative funding approaches, including incentivising infrastructure funding, reforming USAF approaches. 4. Alignment and incentivizing funding contributors is key for government connectivity plans, mobilizing all sectors’ pools of capital by removing challenges and barriers to network infrastructure investment. 5. Build network infrastructure policies to last with sustainable and agile plans." (Executive summary)
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"The objective of this case study is to analyse the current institutional and regulatory framework of Tanzania to understand how it reflects the principles and nature of collaborative regulation. The case study also highlights areas of strength and possible improvements as Tanzania journeys towards
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digital transformation and collaborative regulation, enabling it to seize opportunities and address challenges. The analysis and results are based on publicly available information (reports, legal acts, studies) and information obtained during interviews with stakeholders from Tanzania (see Box below on the methodology of the ITU Collaborative Regulation Case Studies). Gathering information from different perspectives spotlights strengths and opportunities for the country, while identifying areas for further consideration that could bring Tanzania into the group of G5 countries." (Page 2)
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"This case study shows that Rwanda’s laws and its national, sector-specific and ICT sector policies, strategies and regulations are well coordinated and embrace a whole-of-government approach and the spirit of collaboration. Rwanda’s regulatory and policy frameworks furthermore “tick all of th
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e boxes” required in order to support the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the East African Community’s Vision 2050 and Rwanda’s national Vision 2050 and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Rwanda’s policy framework also advances the country’s commitments on climate change within the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change." (Page 2)
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"In 2020, the 46 LDCs had a combined population of 1.06 billion people and are highly vulnerable, with low levels of human development. And yet, geography, population size and income vary within the group, and these different conditions affect digital development.
National data infrastructure is an
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essential component for a digital economy, as it comprises the facilities for transporting, exchanging and storing data. There are significant gaps in national transmission networks, Internet exchange points (IXPs) and data centres. Coverage and density of national transmission networks are lagging in the LDCs. This has ramifications for Internet access and the quality of service. IXPs play a major role in lowering the cost of Internet access as well as reducing data exchange delay, yet 19 LDCs lack them. Furthermore, in those LDCs with IXPs, many of the facilities are not having the impact they should. Data centres, facilities to store data, are in short supply in the LDCs. There are less than 100 in the group, of which over a quarter are in Bangladesh. Eighteen LDCs do not have Internet-connected data centres.
Quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in people around the world turning to online shopping. However, this was not possible for many in the LDCs, due to a lack of online shops, as well as demand-side constraints, such as awareness, distrust and payment methods. An encouraging initiative is the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) diagnostics and concrete recommendations for enhancing e-commerce in many LDCs.
The private sector is essential for boosting digital connectivity in the LDCs. Telecommunications in the LDCs are mainly operated by private companies, a reverse of the situation three decades ago. Yet most policy reports make scarce mention of the companies building the connectivity infrastructure in LDCs." (Introduction)
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"This report provides an overview of trends and developments in ICT infrastructure, access and use in Africa, which includes 44 member states and is home to a population of 1.04 billion people. The report highlights changes in ICT adoption since the last World Telecommunication Development Conferenc
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e in 2017 (WTDC-17) and during the COVID-19 pandemic, tracks the evolution of regulation, and reviews progress and challenges in implementing the ITU regional initiatives for Africa. Its objective is to serve as a reference for the ITU membership in reviewing progress and identifying ICT development priorities in Africa." (Abstract)
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"Ce guide a pour but d'aider à identifier les lacunes, les opportunités et les faiblesses du système afin de guider la définition d’une stratégie nationale plus cohérente et de positionner la téléphonie mobile comme appui aux activités de préparation, de réponse et de relèvement en cas
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de catastrophe. Une évaluation complète des besoins et des capacités d'un pays, de ses agences et de ses politiques est indispensable pour améliorer les stratégies et les plans de télécommunications d'urgence existants, ainsi que pour intégrer les aspirations d’un PNTU basé sur la téléphonie mobile dans un plan national global de réponse aux catastrophes ou de développement national." (Conclusion, page 13)
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"Section 1 focuses on creating an enabling environment. Mobile network operators (MNOs) operate in a regulated environment.5 However, if this environment is not sufficiently enabling to support disaster preparedness, response and recovery, MNOs will encounter challenges when disaster strikes. This s
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ection provides a broad overview of a country’s mobile landscape by helping practitioners to appraise the policy, legal and regulatory environment and identify key areas for policy intervention.
Section 2 focuses on data sharing. Here, practitioners can take a closer look at the data ecosystem by examining not only the policy and regulations that exist on paper, but also what it takes to implement data infrastructure and policies for using and protecting data across the humanitarian ecosystem. These include institutional mandates, technological options, human capabilities, incentives and enforcement mechanisms. Understanding how infrastructure systems, processes, people and policies support humanitarian innovation in practical ways is key.
Section 3 provides an analysis of use cases in mobile-enabled emergency telecommunications. These use cases help to capture the lived experiences of those in the humanitarian ecosystem and guide policy reviews in support of government priorities, use cases and humanitarian interventions." (About this guide, page 5)
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"Nearly USD 428 billion is required to achieve universal access to broadband connectivity by 2030 at the global level. This amount includes significant investment in infrastructure, investments to design and implement policy and regulatory frameworks that incentivize and promote growth in broadband
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connectivity and investments to support and equip populations around the world with the necessary basic digital skills (the skills necessary to navigate the Internet and to use commonly available local applications) and the content needed to benefit meaningfully from broadband access and use.
Achieving the target of connecting all of humanity to broadband Internet by 2030 is, above all, an infrastructure investment challenge. Around 2.6million 4G BTS and700 000 km of backbone fibre transmission infrastructure would have to be rolled out on top of the existing broadband network capabilities. Around 90 per cent of the required investments are directly tied to the need to roll out and maintain broadband networks to support the additional connected user base and related traffic. In addition, 40 per cent of total investments would have to be allocated to CAPEX buildout for last mile broadband and transmission networks capable of reaching and serving at least 90 per cent of the target population. This shows that deploying new infrastructure and upgrading the existing one will be necessary to guarantee a 4G equivalent connection to everyone. While in some regions bridging the connectivity gap predominantly means upgrading existing coverage and capacity sites, nearly half of the required radio access network (RAN) infrastructure investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and East Asia/Pacific will be greenfield. This increases the overall weight of investments in such regions to a large extent, especially given the fact that greenfield CAPEX often demands equity premium. Moreover, considerably more capacity would be needed as technology evolves and demand grows, and this means existing infrastructure reach and capacity will constantly need to be expanded." (Pages 4-5)
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"The internet has revolutionised the way that many of us live our lives, enabling new forms of communication, fostering online communities, fuelling economic growth, and facilitating all manner of entertainment. Yet about half of the world’s population remains offline, and only about 19% of the Le
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ast Developed Countries’ (LDCs) population has access to the internet. The reality of access in rural areas across the world is even more bleak, with access in rural areas sitting at about 14% compared to 42% in urban areas in Global South countries. It is more urgent than ever to focus on affordable and meaningful mobile broadband internet access to deliver on the promise and opportunities of digital development in developing countries of the Global South, with special attention to rural areas and LDCs in general. In order to achieve the universal goals for reducing inequality and achieving universal access by 2030, it is crucial to have clear frameworks that can guide and speed up progress. This Rural Broadband Policy Framework (RBPF) aims to provide guidance to address the persistent ‘Digital Divide’, with a focus on the context and challenges faced in rural areas." (Introduction)
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"With particularly low internet penetration rates, intense state censorship and heavy Chinese investment, Pakistan presents elements of an authoritarian internet culture where surveillance is a barely-questioned norm, unless probed by civil society organizations or journalists. Social media giants s
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uch as Facebook and Twitter have come into minor clashes with the Pakistani government where enforcing content blockage/regulation is concerned. For example, the government in 2018 expanded the remit of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to allow the regulator to block various types of content.[1] Journalists have begun to self-censor out of threats to their lives. Nearly 88% of Pakistan’s journalists said that they selfcensored, according to a 2018 survey carried out by Media Matters for Democracy, a local NGO. China, with its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and One Belt One Road initiative, is exporting its regulatory model of surveillance to Pakistan, thus worsening the situation. A handful of digital human rights civil society organizations have sprung up over the past few years such as Media Matters for Democracy, Digital Rights Foundation and Bytes4All, all with the aim of fighting back against invasion of privacy, freedom of speech, and safety of journalists, and raising awareness about the issue of internet and human rights in Pakistan." (Page 4)
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