Information Technology and Global Governance: Universal Access and Service

Lewis, Charley

This book provides the first full account of the 20-year story of universal access and service in South Africa’s ICT sector. From 1994 the country’s first democratic government set out to redress the deep digital divide afflicting the overwhelming majority of its citizens, already poor and disenfranchised, but likewise marginalised in access to telephone infrastructure and services. By this time, an incipient global policy regime was driving reforms in the telecomms sector, and also developing good practice models for universal service. Policy diffusion thus led South Africa to adopt, adapt and implement a slew of these interventions. In particular, roll-out obligations were imposed on licensees, and a universal service fund was established. But an agency with a universal service mandate was also created; and licences in under-serviced areas were awarded. The book goes on to identify and analyse the policy success and failure of each of these interventions, and suggests some lessonsto be learned. 

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2020-06-11

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9783030435264

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-43527-1

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: 347