Investments in Telecommunications Infrastructure Are Not the Panacea for LDCs Leapfrogging Growth of Teledensity

by Victor W. Mbarika, Terry Anthony Byrd, Jennie E. Raymond, Patrick McMullen

JMM – The International Journal on Media Management Vol. 2 – No. III/IV – 2000

One of the major prerequisites of economic integration in a modern, complex society is the development of sound infrastructure in the telecommunications sector. The establishment of a modern, reliable, and rapidly expanding telecommunications infrastructure contributes considerably to the promotion of a variety of activities of economic expansion (World Bank Telecommunications Sector Reports, 1991). Some researchers have associated the level of a countryÕs telecommunications infrastructure to teledensity. (Saunders et al, 1994; Gille, 1986). Teledensity is used to refer to the number of main telephone lines for every one hundred inhabitants. Teledensity is also used to refer to the level of a countryÕs telecommunications infrastructure. (Saunders et al, 1994; Gille, 1986).

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are defined as low-income countries that are suffering from long-term constraints against growth. In particular, these growth constraints include low levels of human resource development and severe structural weaknesses: economic, social, and political (Austin, 1990). These countries are particularly ill-equipped to develop their domestic economies which are vulnerable to external shocks and natural disasters. Such socio-economic and political weaknesses are therefore reflected in the telecommunications infrastructure of LDCs, particularly in terms of growth teledensity.

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Comments

[AJUH JOSHUA FON]

how do the rural populations in the developed countries perceive the internet???
Just wish to know more about the situation in the developed economies