Telco: Investment, Innovation and Competition in ICT Infrastructure
Information and communication technology (ICT), the key for information gathering, storage, processing, transmission and display, has been experiencing a rapid and steady growth around the globe in the past two decades.
With the rapid growth of ICT infrastructure, including fixed and mobile networks, connected devices, data centers, as well as cloud computing infrastructures, etc., ICT has become fundamental features of modern society, and to some extent, internet access is even considered as a basic right for human in this information society.
ICT has enormous potential to help achieve sustainable development of human society. More specifically, it demonstrates the ability to act as enabler or accelerator for both economical and societal development of a country and human society, and even to create economical and societal value by itself, which raises attentions from governments around the globe.
At a macro-economic level, it is a consensus is that ICT development has positive impact on national economic growth. This position paper conducted a regression analysis based on a data set of 125 countries for the period 2010 to 2016, during which 4G mobile network becomes dominating, and came to a conclusion that with 16-20% increment in ICT capital services, the GDP is about to raise 1%.
ICT benefits economical & societal development of society, which requires government to create favorable environment.
In addition to ICT's impact on national economic growth, ICT also supports societal wellbeing and public affairs.
It contributes to promoting education accessibility and cultural communication, reducing unemployment rate, ensuring both public and personal safety and security, improving government efficiency and transparency.
