ICT Policy and Regulation Research from LIRNEasia
LIRNEasia showcased its research from 2005 on 6 March, 2006 at the Park Hotel, New Delhi. Indian operators as well as media were in attendance.
The highlights of LIRNEasia’s first year of Research are available HERE. The presentations are available below:
Introduction to LIRNEasia and its 2005 research program, Rohan Samarajiva. More information on LIRNEasia can be found HERE.
Telecom use on a shoestring: Findings from a survey of Indian & Sri Lankan users on < USD 100 a month, Ayesha Zainudeen. The final report for this study can be downloaded from the project page.
WiFi innovation and backbone deficiencies, Divakar Goswami. More information can be found at the project page.
Universal service funds: How to do it right, Payal Malik. The final report can be found at the project page.
The importance of backbone, Rohan Samarajiva. More information can be found on the project page.
Least cost subsidy auctions: Getting the conditions right, Harsha de Silva. The final report can be found at the project page.
5 Comments
admin
The following are links to coverage of this event in the Indian media:
The Hindu:
‘Over half of low income group rely on others’ phone: Survey ‘
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200603070302.htm
Zee News:
‘Over half of low income group rely on others’ phone’
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=280017&ssid=204&sid=LIF
CIOL.com
‘Fifty-eight percent of low-income group do not own a telephone’
http://www.ciol.com/content/search/showarticle1.asp?artid=81416
samarajiva
And one more:
Contrary to belief, women don’t chinwag on phone
Nivedita Mookerji
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1016968
samarajiva
The DNA story “Contrary to belief . . . ” was carried with attribution in the Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), March 25, 2006, p. 35.
Divakar Goswami
In the presentation “Wi-Fi Innovation and backbone deficiencies,” made in New Delhi in March 2006, the three key lessons for developing countries like India were the following:
1) Hastening of broadband Internet deployment in India & developing countries if ISPs can use Wi-Fi in the access network to bypass incumbent’s local loop.
2)Wi-Fi can bridge digital divide by providing Internet connectivity leap-frogging difficult terrain and lack of wired infrastructure in rural areas.
3)Wi-Fi deployment can be commercially viable.
A press release expanding on the above themes was also released on the occasion.
It is heartening to note that in the face of the incumbent’s reluctance to unbundle its local loop, the Indian regulator is pushing for wireless solutions using Wi-Fi and Wimax to bypass the local loop bottle neck:
Hindu Businessline, June 1, 2006
http://www.blonnet.com/2006/06/02/stories/2006060202440600.htm
Interestingly, TRAI has indicated that last mile local loop unbundling of the copper network owned by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd may not be necessary and the Government should instead promote wireless technologies.
“The length of copper loops in rural and remote areas is also very large thus making them unsuitable for provision of broadband service supporting digital subscribers link. The deployment of wireless technologies for the provision of broadband services would be an appropriate step ,” said the TRAI letter.
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