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Digital economy

Broadband Growth and Policies in OECD Countries

 

Table of contents | How to obtain this publication

This page is directly accessible at www.oecd.org/sti/ict/broadband/growth

Pages: 146
ISBN 978-92-64-04676-4
Published: July 2008

Broadband plays a critical role in the workings of the economy and society. It connects consumers, businesses, and governments and facilitates social interaction.  Hence, broadband policies are now a vital instrument to ensure the competitiveness of OECD countries and to address pressing societal concerns.

This report examines broadband developments and policies, and highlights challenges such as connecting users to fibre-based networks or coverage of rural areas. It also outlines emerging issues that may need policy attention as we move to next-generation networks. The findings are also relevant to emerging and developing economies designing broadband strategies.

Table of contents


Main Findings and Policy Suggestions: Monitoring the Recommendation of the OECD Council on Broadband Development

  • Positive market and policy developments
  • Areas which need more attention
  • Policy suggestions for the way forward
    • Evolution of broadband
      Government intervention with respect to broadband infrastructure
      Broadband diffusion, use and policy developments and recommendations
      Promoting competition, innovation, interoperability and choice
      Security, privacy and consumer protection
      Regulatory frameworks that balance the interests of suppliers and users
      R&D for the development of broadband
      Evaluation and policy co-ordination

Chapter 1. Broadband Infrastructure

  • Infrastructure: Market trends and developments since 2003
    • Penetration | Coverage | Prices | Speeds and services | Competition
  • Infrastructure: Application of the Recommendation
    • Efficient markets | Promoting investment: Supply-side approaches

Chapter 2. Broadband Diffusion and Usage

  • Diffusion and usage: Market trends and developments since 2003
    • Business use of broadband | School and university use of broadband | Broadband access and use in OECD households | Increased range of broadband applications and content since 2003 | Advanced broadband applications for government, education, health and other social sectors
  • Diffusion and usage
    • Application of the Recommendation | Demand-based policy approaches | Promoting broadband content and applications | Promoting interoperability, innovation and choice | Unlocking the potential behind advanced broadband applications in social sectors

Chapter 3. The Framework Environment for Broadband

  • Security, privacy and consumer protection
    • Market trends and developments since 2003 | Application of the Recommendation
  • Regulatory frameworks balancing the interests of suppliers and users
    • Market trends and developments since 2003 | Application of the Recommendation
  • Research and development (R&D)
    • Market trends and developments since 2003 | Application of the Recommendation

Chapter 4. Broadband Policy Assessment and Evaluation

  • Need for improved policy assessment and evaluation
  • Statistics and analysis
  • Need for improved policy co-ordination and sharing of best practices among OECD countries 

Annex A. Recommendation of the OECD Council on Broadband Development
Annex B. National Broadband Plans

How to obtain this publication

Readers can access the book choosing from the following options:

  • Subscribers and readers at subscribing institutions can access this title on the OECD iLibrary.
  • Non-subscribers can browse the PDF e-book and/or purchase the paperback edition at the OECD Online Bookshop.
  • Government officials with accounts () can go to the "Books" tab on OLIS.

 

 

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