LIRNEasia » tariffs http://lirneasia.net a regional ICT policy and regulation think tank active across the Asia Pacific Fri, 25 May 2012 02:42:29 +0000 en hourly 1 LIRNEasia’s Int’l voice benchmark findings published in Himal Southasian http://lirneasia.net/2009/06/lirneasias-intl-voice-benchmark-findings-published-in-himal-southasian/ http://lirneasia.net/2009/06/lirneasias-intl-voice-benchmark-findings-published-in-himal-southasian/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:31:16 +0000 Nirmali Sivapragasam http://lirneasia.net/?p=4528 rohan_combinedv1An article published in the Himal Southasian and authored by Rohan Samarajiva, explores the feasibility of regional economic integration among the SAARC region, given among factors, high telecommunication costs between such countries. Entitled, ‘Roaming dystopia’, the article opines that in the same way that poor transportation facilities can stifle international trade between countries, so can [...]]]> An article published in the Himal Southasian and authored by Rohan Samarajiva, explores the feasibility of regional economic integration among the SAARC region, given among factors, high telecommunication costs between such countries. Entitled, ‘Roaming dystopia’, the article opines that in the same way that poor transportation facilities can stifle international trade between countries, so can high communication costs such as leased line prices act as a deterrent to effective economic integration.

rohan_combinedv1

Based on roaming tariffs collated and published in LIRNEasia’s International Voice Benchmarks report, the article states that “unless telephone calls within the region are cheaper than calls to locations outside, it is reasonable to dismiss declarations on economic integration as little more than hot air”.

The full article is available here: Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3

]]> http://lirneasia.net/2009/06/lirneasias-intl-voice-benchmark-findings-published-in-himal-southasian/feed/ 0 Call to reduce intra-SAARC phone tariffs published in Bangladesh too http://lirneasia.net/2008/07/call-to-reduce-intra-saarc-phone-calls-published-in-bangladesh-too/ http://lirneasia.net/2008/07/call-to-reduce-intra-saarc-phone-calls-published-in-bangladesh-too/#comments Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:12:56 +0000 Rohan Samarajiva http://lirneasia.net/?p=1788 The op-ed piece written up on the basis of one of the LIRNEasia benchmark studies, has been published in the leading Bangladesh newspaper, Daily Star. The data and recommendations thus have been published, in various forms, in the special issue of Himal Southasian, in The Dawn, as a Choices column on LBO, and also flashed by AFP. As a result of the latter, it has got play in a number of publications, including in a Vietnam publication, the Mirror online (Sri Lanka), etc.

Telecompk.net has also started a discussion.

Indian papers were unfortunately too preoccupied with the Parliamentary drama around the confidence motion. And then Ahmedabad happened. But we keep hoping. Bhutan and Maldives may come in too.

The test of course is whether intra-SAARC prices come down. It has been reported that Sri Lanka’s largest mobile operator has dropped prices to SAARC countries to LKR 15/mt (app. USD 0.15). If this holds, we would have done something.

Detailed information on international voice prices may be found here.

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