IGI global handbook of research on global diffusion of broadband data transmission jan 2008 ISBN 1599048515 pdf

Handbook of Research
on Global Diffusion of
Broadband Data
Transmission
Yogesh K. Dwivedi
Swansea University, UK
Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou
Brunel University, UK
Jyoti Choudrie
University of Hertfordshire, UK

Volume I

INFORMATION SCIENCE REFERENCE
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Handbook of research on global diffusion of broadband data transmission / Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou, and Jyoti
Choudrie, editors.
p. cm.
Summary: “This book explores broadband adoption and the digital divide through a global perspective, it provides research on constructs

such as relative advantage, utilitarian outcomes, hedonic outcomes, and service quality. From over 100 noted experts in nearly 30 countries,
WKLVZRUNDOORZVSROLF\PDNHUV,QWHUQHWVHUYLFHSURYLGHUVDQGRWKHUVWRJDLQPXOWLFXOWXUDOLQVLJKWLQWRZKDWIDFWRUVLQÀXHQFHFRQVXPHUV¶
decisions to adopt broadband”--Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-59904-851-2 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-59904-852-9 (e-book)
1. Internet users--Attitudes. 2. Digital divide. 3. Internet service providers. 4. Consumer behavior. 5. Broadband communication
systems. 6. Globalization--Social aspects. I. Dwivedi, Yogesh Kumar. II. Papazafeiropoulou, Anastasia. III. Choudrie, Jyoti.

TK5103.4.H36 2008
¶GF
2007052995
British Cataloguing in Publication Data
A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library.
All work contributed to this book set is original material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of
the publisher.
If a library purchased a print copy of this publication, please go to />for information on activating the library's complimentary electronic access to this publication.


To my Mother and Father for their love and blessings…And to my lovingly and much awaited
‘Shagun’

To Athina

To my dearest, wonderful, encouraging and supportive Mum, Dad and Bobby


Editorial Advisory Board

Nikhilesh Dholakia
University of Rhode Island, USA
Guy Fitzgerald

Brunel University, UK
Sergio Godoy
Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile
Heejin Lee
University of Melbourne, Australia
Catherine Middleton
Ryerson University, Canada
Challa Radhakumari
Sri Sathya Sai University, India
Aradhana Srivastava
PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia), India
Viswanath Venkatesh
University of Arkansas, USA
Michael D. Williams
Swansea University, UK
Vishanth Weerakkody
Brunel University, UK


Table of Contents

Foreword .......................................................................................................................................... xxxi
Preface ............................................................................................................................................ xxxiv
Acknowledgment............................................................................................................................... xlvi

Volume I
Chapter I
Broadband Adoption and Diffusion (BAD): A Framework / Yogesh K. Dwivedi
and Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou ......................................................................................................... 1

Section I
National Policies
Division I
Africa
Chapter II
South Africa: The Long Walk to Broadband Freedom / Justin Henley Beneke.................................... 13
Division II
Asia
Chapter III
Bridging the Digital Divide Through Broadband Deployment / Challa Radhakumari........................ 30
Chapter IV
Broadband Policy, Market Competition, and User Adoption in Taiwan / Yu-li Liu.............................. 47
Chapter V
ICT Competency of Bangladesh to Face Broadband Diffusion / Anwarul Islam
and K.C. Panda..................................................................................................................................... 60


Chapter VI
Socio-Cultural Interpretations to the Diffusion and Use of Broadband Services in a Korean
Digital Society / Dal Yong Jin............................................................................................................... 78
Chapter VII
Structural Changes and Regulatory Challenges in the Japanese Telecommunications Industry /
Hidenori Fuke ....................................................................................................................................... 90
Division III
Australia and New Zealand
Chapter VIII
$QDO\VLVRIWKH,QÀXHQFHRI$XVWUDOLD¶V*RYHUQPHQW3ROLF\RQ%URDGEDQG,QWHUQHW$FFHVV
Qiuyan Fan ......................................................................................................................................... 109
Chapter IX
Broadband for the Mass Market / Roger Saunders............................................................................. 126

Chapter X
Competition, Regulation, and Broadband Diffusion: The Case of New Zealand /
Bronwyn Howell.................................................................................................................................. 139
Division IV
Europe
Chapter XI
Digital Divide and Broadband Access: The Case of an Italian Region / Enrico Ferro,
J. Ramon Gil-Garcia and Natalie Helbig ........................................................................................... 160
Chapter XII
Improving Broadband Access in Rural Areas / Ingjerd Skogseid....................................................... 177
Chapter XIII
Metropolitan Broadband Networks: Design and Implementation Aspects, and Business Models /
Antonios Alexiou, Christos Bouras, John Papagiannopoulos and Dimitris Primpas ........................ 196
Chapter XIV
Small World: The Irish Broadband Experience / Diana Wilson, Kevin O’Reilly,
and Dave Murray................................................................................................................................ 211
Chapter XV
Social, Political, and Ethical Responsibility in Broadband Adoption and Diffusion:
$*HUPDQ&DVH6WXG\Axel Schulz, Bernd Carsten Stahl, and Simon Rogerson ............................. 227


Division V
North America
Chapter XVI
Competition in Broadband Provision and the Digital Divide /
Wei-Min Hu and James E. Prieger ..................................................................................................... 241
Chapter XVII
*RYHUQPHQWDODQG&XOWXUDO)DFWRUVLQ%URDGEDQG$GRSWLRQ
Elizabeth Fife, Laura Hosman,and Francis Pereira .......................................................................... 260
Chapter XVIII

Regulation and the Deployment of Broadband / James E. Prieger and Sunhwa Lee ........................ 278

Section II
Consumer-User Behaviors
Division I
Australia
Chapter XIX
Factors Affecting Broadband Adoption for Mainstream Consumers / Peter Adams.......................... 306
Division II
Europe
Chapter XX
Developing a Dynamic View of Broadband Adoption / Herbert Daly, Adrina Ortiz,
Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Ray J. Paul, J. Santos, and J.M. Sarriegi ........................................................... 322
Chapter XXI
Employing the Content Validity Approach for Improving the Content of the Broadband
Adoption Survey Instrument / Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Banita Lal, and Khalil Khoumbati..................... 337
Chapter XXII
Inside the Microcosm: A Case Study of a Wireless Internet Hotspot / Pierre Vialle, Olivier Epinette,
and Olivier Segard .............................................................................................................................. 349
Chapter XXIII
7KH8VHVDQG*UDWL¿FDWLRQVRI%URDGEDQG,QWHUQHW
Karianne Vermaas and Lidwien van de Wijngaert ............................................................................. 366


Division III
Middle East
Chapter XXIV
Factors Affecting Attitudes towards Broadband Adoption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia /
Vishanth Weerakkody .......................................................................................................................... 380
Division IV

North America
Chapter XXV
Characteristics of Farm and Rural Internet Use in the United States /
Peter L. Stenberg and Mitchell Morehart ........................................................................................... 395
Division V
South America
Chapter XXVI
Broadband User Behavior Characterization / Humberto T. Marques Neto, Leonardo C.D. Rocha,
Pedro H.C. Guerra, Jussara M. Almeida, Wagner Meira Jr., and Virgilio A.F. Almeida ................... 408

Volume II
Chapter XXVII
Precisions about the Broadband Divide in Chile / Sergio Godoy and M. Soledad Herrera............... 427

Section III
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Division I
Asia
Chapter XXVIII
A Survey on the Adoption and Usage of Broadband Internet / Roya Gholami, John Lim,
and Sang-Yong Tom Lee...................................................................................................................... 448
Division II
Europe
Chapter XXIX
Broadband Access and Broadband-Based Applications: An Empirical Study of the Determinants of
Adoption Among Italian SMEs / Massimo G. Colombo, Luca Grilli, and Cinzia Verga ................... 466


Chapter XXX
Broadband Diffusion to SMEs in the UK / Oluwasola Oni and Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou ........ 481

Chapter XXXI
Environmental Drivers of E-Business Strategies Among SMEs /
Alessandro Arbore and Andrea Ordanini ........................................................................................... 493
Chapter XXXII
([SORULQJ60(V¶$GRSWLRQRI%URDGEDQGLQWKH1RUWKZHVWRI(QJODQGBoumediene Ramdani
and Peter Kawalek.............................................................................................................................. 504
Chapter XXXIII
External Pressures for Adoption of ICT Services among SMEs /
Andrea Ordanini and Alessandro Arbore ........................................................................................... 524

Section IV
Impact on Emerging Applications
Division I
Entertainment Industry
Chapter XXXIV
IPTV Business Model Analysis / Kate Carney Landow, Michelle Fandre, Raghu Nambiath,
Ninad Shringarpure, Harvey Gates, Artur Lugmayr, and Scott Barker.............................................. 538
Chapter XXXV
The Impact of the Internet on the Law and Economics of the United States Motion
Picture Industry / Stanford L. Levin, John B. Meisel, and Timothy S. Sullivan .................................. 563
Division II
Health Industry
Chapter XXXVI
Broadband for Health in Developing Countries / Aradhana Srivastava ............................................ 581
Chapter XXXVII
Improving Health Services via Advanced ICT Networks / Peter Farr, Isabelle Ellis,
and John Royle.................................................................................................................................... 593
Chapter XXXVIII
Remote Patient Monitoring in Residential Care Homes:
Using Wireless and Broadband Networks /

Tanja Bratan, Malcolm Clarke, Joanna Fursse, and Russell Jones ................................................... 604


Division III
Social Impact
Chapter XXXIX
Social Consequences of Broadband Access in Japan / Kenichi Ishii.................................................. 619
Division IV
Communication
Chapter XL
Internet-Based Changes in Organizational Communication /
Erik Lundmark and Alf Westelius........................................................................................................ 637
Chapter XLI
8ELTXLWRXV&RPPXQLFDWLRQYLD5HVLGHQWLDO*DWHZD\VAlex De Smedt............................................ 655

Section V
Cross-Country Analysis
Chapter XLII
Adoption of Broadband Services: The Role of National Policies / Morten Falch ............................. 671
Chapter XLIII
Broadband Diffusion and its Driving Forces / Banani Nandi and Chandana Chakraborty............... 689
Chapter XLIV
Diffusion of Broadband Access in Latin America /
Arturo Robles Rovalo, Claudio Feijóo González, and José Luis Gómez-Barroso ............................. 711
Chapter XLV
Diffusion Forecasting and Price Evolution of Broadband Telecommunication
Services in Europe / Dimitris Varoutas, Christos Michalakelis, Alexander Vavoulas,
and Konstantina Deligiorgi ................................................................................................................ 729
Chapter XLVI
Explaining Patterns of Broadband Deployment and Adoption in OECD Countries /

Inmaculada Cava Ferreruela.............................................................................................................. 756
Chapter XLVII
ICT Statistics for Broadband Promoting Regulatory Policy /
Diana Korsakaite and Tomas Lamanauskas....................................................................................... 776


Chapter XLVIII
Impact of Broadband VoIP on Telecoms: A Cross-Country Analysis /
Bardo Fraunholz and Chandana Unnithan ........................................................................................ 796
Chapter XLIX
The Adoption of Broadband Internet in Australia and Canada /
Catherine Middleton and Shanton Chang .......................................................................................... 818
Chapter L
The Evolution of Broadband Industry in the Developing World:
A Comparison of China and India / Nir Kshetri, and Nikhilesh Dholakia ......................................... 841


Detailed Table of Contents

Preface ............................................................................................................................................ xxxiv
Acknowledgment............................................................................................................................... xlvi

Volume I
Chapter I
Broadband Adoption and Diffusion (BAD): A Framework / Yogesh K. Dwivedi
and Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou ......................................................................................................... 1
The aim of this chapter is to outline various factors reported in the 49 chapters of this handbook of research.
7KHDLPLVDOVRWRRUJDQL]HLGHQWL¿HGIDFWRUVLQDPHDQLQJIXOPDQQHULQRUGHUWRSURSRVHDIUDPHZRUNRI
broadband adoption and diffusion. This chapter illustrates the fact that research on the adoption, diffusion,
usage, and impact of broadband is clearly a global issue which requires a multidisciplinary approach.

The proposed framework includes three levels of factors—macro factors, individual micro factors, and
SME-level micro factors. These three levels of factors are relevant at different levels of development,
deployment, and diffusion of broadband which persist in various developed and developing countries.
The chapter concludes by suggesting that the proposed framework is based on a comprehensive set of
factors observed in various countries, and future studies may use this framework to identify gaps and
then bridge those gaps by conducting new studies.

Section I
National Policies
This section examines the macro or supply-side factors affecting broadband deployment and diffusion
in various countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New
Zealand, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States of America. A number of
pertinent factors and issues including national policy, market competition, ICT competency, structural
changes, regulatory challenges, rural access, socio-political and ethical responsibility, and digital divide
DUHGLVFXVVHGLQWKLVVHFWLRQ7KHVHFWLRQLVIXUWKHURUJDQL]HGLQWR¿YHGLYLVLRQVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHJHRgraphical areas where the studies included in this section were conducted.


Division I
Africa
Chapter II
South Africa: The Long Walk to Broadband Freedom / Justin Henley Beneke .................................... 13
South Africa has fallen behind its international peersboth developing and developed marketsin the
race to rollout broadband services. In fact, even within the African continent, it is neither the broadband leader nor progressive in comparison to its Northern African counterparts. This chapter explores
the development of broadband services in South Africa, as well as touching on the challenges faced in
bringing this phenomenon into the mainstream. Reasons for the lack of diffusion and adoption of such
VHUYLFHVSRLQWWRKLJKHQGXVHUFRVWVRIWKHVHUYLFHDYHU\OLPLWHGJHRJUDSKLFDOIRRWSULQWRIERWK¿[HG
line and mobile broadband infrastructure, as well as a lack of computer literacy and an understanding of
what broadband is able to offer. The chapter looks at possible solutions, including introducing a greater
degree of competition into the market to facilitate downward pressure on prices, as well as providing
FRVWEDVHGDFFHVVWRLQWHUQDWLRQDOVXEPDULQH¿EHUFDEOHVDQGWKHXQEXQGOLQJRIWKHORFDOORRSWRIXUWKHU

this objective.
Division II
Asia
Chapter III
Bridging the Digital Divide through Broadband Deployment / Challa Radhakumari ......................... 30
This chapter provides a summary relating to the functioning of two projects in the two Southern States of
India, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, to show how through broadband deployment in rural areas the digital
divide can be bridged. By focusing on the implementation of the two projects, the chapter illustrates
their contribution in practically using the broadband technologies in overcoming the hurdles to bridging
WKHGLJLWDOGLYLGHDQGKLJKOLJKWVWKHFULWLFDOVXFFHVVIDFWRUVDVLGHQWL¿HGGXULQJWKHIXQFWLRQLQJRIWKH
projects which helped the states in achieving their goals. The chapter also reveals through its analysis
that the accessibility of services through broadband technology has brought an opportunity to the citizens to become a part of the current knowledge revolution, besides bringing about a great technological
transformation to the areas where it is implemented and thus contributed to bridging the digital divide.
The chapter is concluded by proving that moving from a manual to electronic process with broadband
technology as an enabler; the two Southern States of India set an example, which will serve as a set of
guidelines for application of similar projects in other geographical settings.
Chapter IV
Broadband Policy, Market Competition, and User Adoption in Taiwan / Yu-li Liu.............................. 47
7DLZDQKDVEHHQPDNLQJJUHDWHIIRUWVWRSURPRWHWKHIXO¿OOPHQWRILWV1DWLRQDO,QIRUPDWLRQ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH
(NII), with broadband network technology and its application having rapidly developed in recent years.
This chapter analyzes the broadband adoption, the competition among providers of broadband, and relevant policies in Taiwan. The research methods adopted include a literature review, in-depth interviews,


DQGVHFRQGDU\DQDO\VLVRISUHYLRXVVXUYH\VFRQGXFWHGE\7:1,&6LQFH7DLZDQ¶VEURDGEDQGSHQHWUDWLRQ
LVWKH¿IWKKLJKHVWLQWKHZRUOGWKHGLVFXVVLRQVRIWKHPDMRUIDFWRUVFRQWULEXWLQJWREURDGEDQGGHSOR\ment in this chapter might provide some experiences from which other countries can learn.
Chapter V
ICT Competency of Bangladesh to Face Broadband Diffusion /
Anwarul Islam and K.C. Panda ............................................................................................................ 60
As a developing country, Bangladesh has taken keen initiatives to develop its sustainable information
infrastructure. Teledensity and overall IT infrastructure is now in a growing stage. Recently, Bangladesh

KDVEHHQFRQQHFWHGZLWK6($0(:(VXEPDULQHFDEOHHVWDEOLVKLQJDQRSWLFDO¿EHUEDFNERQHLWV
teledensity is changing in rapid pace. But, the broadband diffusion in Bangladesh is not on par with other
Asian countries, since it is in an embryonic stage in broadband diffusion. This chapter tries to show the
initiatives taken and the existing condition of Bangladesh to fetch the countrywide broadband diffusion.
Efforts have been made to unmask the overall development of ICT infrastructure in Bangladesh to judge
the environment of broadband diffusion in the country.
Chapter VI
Socio-Cultural Interpretations to the Diffusion and Use of Broadband Services in a Korean
Digital Society / Dal Yong Jin............................................................................................................... 78
This chapter attempts to ascertain the causes of the rapid growth of broadband services in the context
of the broader socio-cultural elements. It recognizes technology as a socio-cultural product which has
historically been constituted by certain forms of knowledge and social practice, so this chapter explores
cultural elements contributing to the diffusion of broadband services in the context of the cultural enYLURQPHQWLQ.RUHD)XUWKHUWKLVFKDSWHUGLVFXVVHVWKHVLJQL¿FDQWUROHRIWKHSHRSOHDVXVHUVLQWKH
process of the rapid diffusion and growth of broadband services. In particular, it emphasizes the way in
ZKLFKWKHHFRQRPLFFULVLVDVRQHRIWKHPRVWVLJQL¿FDQWVRFLRFXOWXUDOWXUQLQJSRLQWVLQPRGHUQ
.RUHDQKLVWRU\KDVLQÀXHQFHGWKHGHSOR\PHQWRIEURDGEDQGVHUYLFHVDVKLJKVSHHG,QWHUQHWFRQQHFWLRQV
have developed since 1997.
Chapter VII
Structural Changes and Regulatory Challenges in the Japanese Telecommunications Industry /
Hidenori Fuke ....................................................................................................................................... 90
The structure of the telecommunications industry in Japan has been changing revolutionarily. The
FKDQJHVDUHREVHUYHGLQ¿YHSKDVHVGHYHORSPHQWRIFRPSHWLWLRQLQWRWKHORFDOFDOOPDUNHWGLIIXVLRQ
of broadband Internet and development of inter-platform competition, rapid growth of cellular services
and Internet access via cellular, decline of POTS (plain old telephone service), and structural changes
from vertical integration to layered structure and development of media convergence. These changes
require total review of the regulatory framework that was formed in the POTS era. This chapter reviews:
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DÀDWUDWHSULFLQJV\VWHPRI

the Internet to solve problems that are likely to distort the new industry structure and would stress the
importance of a regulatory system that is competition, technology, and content neutral.


Division III
Australia and New Zealand
Chapter VIII
$QDO\VLVRIWKH,QÀXHQFHRI$XVWUDOLD¶V*RYHUQPHQW3ROLF\RQ%URDGEDQG,QWHUQHW$FFHVV
Qiuyan Fan ......................................................................................................................................... 109
Like many other governments in the world, the Australian government has taken a multi-faceted approach
to promoting broadband Internet access. This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of policy
issues on broadband Internet access in Australia. The primary goal of this chapter is to develop a holistic
XQGHUVWDQGLQJRI$XVWUDOLD¶VQDWLRQDODSSURDFKHVSHUWDLQLQJWREURDGEDQG,QWHUQHWDFFHVV7KLVUHVHDUFK
KDVFOHDUO\LQGLFDWHGWKDWWKHVWDWHRIEURDGEDQG,QWHUQHWDFFHVVLVFORVHO\UHODWHGWRWKHJRYHUQPHQW¶V
policy and regulatory framework. The government has been basing its actions on market forces as a
principal driver for broadband Internet connectivity. However, market forces only play roles in improving broadband Internet access in the major cities and have little effect in regional and rural Australia.
The research has indicated that the regulatory competition regime, by and large, has failed to address
concerns of market dominance and market power in the telecommunications sector as is evidenced by
a relatively lower price-performance ratio of broadband services in Australia.
Chapter IX
Broadband for the Mass Market / Roger Saunders ............................................................................. 126
This chapter suggests that there is no new application to stimulate adoption of broadband by the mass
market. Many new applications have been introduced but have not created the desired growth. One
application that could have mass market attraction is voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), and it is the
most likely killer application. But failure by major communications carriers to develop VoIP is slowing
broadband penetration to this larger market segment. It is postulated that this resistance results from the
risk to current carrier call revenue from VoIP and that infrastructure to support high-speed broadband
PD\QRWJHQHUDWHDGHTXDWHUHYHQXHLQWKHVKRUWWHUPWRVDWLVI\VKDUHKROGHUVRU¿QDQFLDOPDUNHWV1R
international standards have yet been set, and VoIP between the Internet platforms is not fully integrated.
Also the multitude of broadband packages offered by the various competing carriers creates confusion

in the mass market which, as a result, defers purchase decisions.
Chapter X
Competition, Regulation, and Broadband Diffusion: The Case of New Zealand /
Bronwyn Howell .................................................................................................................................. 139
New Zealand offers a thought-provoking case study of the effects of different competition and regulatory
policies on broadband diffusion rates. Despite having one of the highest rates of Internet connection and
usage in the OECD, widely available broadband infrastructure, and low broadband prices, broadband
uptake per capita languishes in the bottom third of the OECD. While low uptake has typically been atWULEXWHGWRFRPSHWLWLRQDQGUHJXODWRU\IDFWRUVDVVRFLDWHGZLWK1HZ=HDODQG¶VµOLJKWKDQGHG¶UHJXODWRU\
UHJLPHWKLVFKDSWHUSURSRVHVWKDWDPRUHFUHGLEOHH[SODQDWLRQOLHVLQDFRPELQDWLRQRI1HZ=HDODQG¶V
legacy of demand-side regulations, in particular the retail tariff options for voice telephony, and the


limited value being derived by New Zealand residential consumers from the small range and narrow
adoption of applications currently used that necessitate broadband connections. The New Zealand case
illustrates the effect that legacy regulations can have on both the diffusion of new technologies per se
and the choices made by consumers between different generational variants within that technology.
The case indicates a need for more research on the effect of telecommunications industry regulations
on demand-side uptake factors.
Division IV
Europe
Chapter XI
Digital Divide and Broadband Access: The Case of an Italian Region /
Enrico Ferro, J. Ramon Gil-Garcia and Natalie Helbig ................................................................... 160
Reducing digital divide in order to build an information society for all is one of the top priorities for
European policymakers. A better understanding of the determinants of broadband access at the individual
level represent a key starting point for any e-inclusion policy. Based on a review of the literature on
digital divide and broadband access, the authors document different approaches to understanding the
digital divide and argue that these perspectives can also help to understand broadband access. Combining the digital divide and broadband literature provides a systematic and theory-based approach to the
selection and inclusion of variables in different models. This chapter presents a case study conducted
LQDQ,WDOLDQUHJLRQ7KHDXWKRUVSURYLGHVRPHLPSOLFDWLRQVRIWKH¿QGLQJVDQGDUJXHWKDWSROLF\PDNHUV

should explore the relationship between IT skills acquisition, broadband access, and Internet use in order
to develop more effective policies and programs.
Chapter XII
Improving Broadband Access in Rural Areas / Ingjerd Skogseid ....................................................... 177
The chapter explores the characteristics of rural broadband infrastructure development. Taking the
existing installed base into consideration, small rural communities can initiate bottom-up cultivation
of broadband infrastructure. Such initiatives are important contributions to overcoming the disparity
in broadband access. In effect, they aggregate demand by creating a larger total market for suppliers
than the individual needs of the actors. The proposal is to use descriptive clusters as a way to reveal the
LQVWDOOHGEDVH$VHWRITXHVWLRQVDQGDQVZHUVZLOOEHGH¿QHGWRUHYHDOWKHLQVWDOOHGEDVH7KHUHVXOWLQJ
data can be used to acquire an overview of the types of resources available and the choices that need to
be made. The use of descriptive clusters places emphasis on the local context and culture. With a bottom-up strategy, questions must be answered in relation to the local context. The responses and lessons
learned may vary from one location to the next, making blueprint implementations impossible.
Chapter XIII
Metropolitan Broadband Networks: Design and Implementation Aspects, and Business Models / Antonios
Alexiou, Christos Bouras, Dimitris Primpas, and John Papagiannopoulos ...................................... 196
This chapter presents the design principles that cover the implementation of broadband infrastructure in
the region of Western Greece, by examining all the necessary parameters that arise while implementing


such a critical developmental project. The broadband infrastructure that is deployed is either based on
RSWLFDO¿EHURQELJPXQLFLSDOLWLHV
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the authors present as two case studies all issues of the designing of the Metropolitan Area Network of
Patras, the third largest city of Greece and the Wireless Access Network of Messatida. The major target
of the broadband networks is to interconnect the buildings of the public sector in the city and also deploy
LQIUDVWUXFWXUH¿EHURUZLUHOHVVV\VWHPV
WKDWZLOOFUHDWHFRQGLWLRQVRIFRPSHWLWLRQLQSURYLGLQJERWKDFcess and content services to the advantage of the end consumer. The usage of the broadband infrastructure
by service providers will be based on the open availability of the infrastructure in a cost-effective way.

7KLVFKDSWHUDOVRSUHVHQWVWKHPDLQFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRIDSURSRVHGEXVLQHVVSODQWKDWHQVXUHV¿QDQFLDO
viability of the broadband infrastructure and guarantees the administration, growth, and exploitation of
infrastructure.
Chapter XIV
Small World: The Irish Broadband Experience / Diana Wilson, Kevin O’Reilly,
and Dave Murray ................................................................................................................................ 211
In this chapter the authors consider from a marketing perspective the political, cultural/social, and economic factors, both micro and macro, affecting the supply/demand nexus of broadband services for the
Irish consumer. This chapter charts the development of broadband and its current situation of rollout
and uptake, examines the reasons for its continuing poor performance, and offers recommendations on
how Ireland may close the gap and perhaps even move ahead. Utilized data was collated from a variety
of resources, journals and press and trade publications. The authors attended a ministerial conference
on the state of broadband to which many representatives of the telecommunications industry had been
LQYLWHG7KH\VXUYH\HGSHRSOHZLWKDQGZLWKRXWWKHIDFLOLW\DQGLQWHUYLHZHGNH\SOD\HUVLQWKH¿HOG7KH
chapter concludes that, although the market is beginning to grow strongly, it is from a low base, and as
a result Ireland still lags behind many of its European counterparts. There is still a lack of competition
which is having an adverse effect on both supply and demand of broadband for the Irish domestic conVXPHU,UHODQGLVDVPDOOFRXQWU\DQGWKHLQFXPEHQWVWLOOKROGVFRQWURORIWKHPRVWSUR¿WDEOHDUHDVRIWKH
technology, particularly wholesale and selling to other operators. Also, the Irish are still not convinced
WKDWEURDGEDQGLVWKHµNLOOHUDSS¶WKH\QHHG7KLVPD\FKDQJHLQWKHIXWXUHDVWKHWHFKQRORJ\GHOLYHUV
more of the content-rich multimedia fare that the Irish already enjoy in other formats.
Chapter XV
Social, Political, and Ethical Responsibility in Broadband Adoption and Diffusion:
A German Case Study / Axel Schulz, Bernd Carsten Stahl, and Simon Rogerson ............................. 227
There is considerable interest worldwide in broadband diffusion, with research focusing on aspects
such as the provision of broadband in remote areas and the socio-economic factors that determine the
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awareness, availability, and adoption. Using the case study of a local broadband initiative in remote
and rural Germany, the chapter asks the question of who can and should be responsible for broadband
provision, and how such responsibility ascriptions are realized.

Division V
North America
Chapter XVI
Competition in Broadband Provision and the Digital Divide / Wei-Min Hu
and James E. Prieger .......................................................................................................................... 241
This chapter examines the supply of DSL broadband by the incumbent local exchange company (LEC)
LQ¿YH86VWDWHVLQWKHHDUOLHU\HDUVRIGHSOR\PHQW(PSLULFDODQDO\VLVVKRZVWKDWLQFRPHRWKHUGHmographics, and cost factors are important determinants of entry and availability. After controlling for
other factors, the racial characteristics of the area do not affect DSL provision. Active competition in
broadband from competitive LECs reduces deployment of DSL by the incumbent, but potential competition from competitive LECs has the opposite effect. Competition from cable companies also negatively
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the various factors is to highlight the important drivers of broadband provision for policymakers.
Chapter XVII
Governmental and Cultural Factors in Broadband Adoption / Elizabeth Fife, Laura Hosman,
and Francis Pereira ............................................................................................................................ 260
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around the world. Some governments have adopted aggressive policies to deploy broadband networks
and to encourage the use of these applications, while others have not. In the former cases, governments
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chapter argues that the high level of broadband adoption rates witnessed in certain Asian economies is
attributable in part to the aggressive policies pursued by these governments. Independent of these policies however, social factors can also have an impact on whether broadband-related technology will be
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States, cultural and social factors may in fact hinder the deployment of such applications and retard the
growth rate of broadband access.
Chapter XVIII
Regulation and the Deployment of Broadband / James E. Prieger and Sunhwa Lee ........................ 278
This study examines the impact of telecommunications regulatory policy on broadband service deployPHQW8VLQJ86GDWDFRYHULQJDOOIRUPVRIDFFHVVWHFKQRORJ\FKLHÀ\'6/DQGFDEOHPRGHP