Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
licensed BWA whereas 5.1 - 5.7 GHz bands are
allocated across all regions for unlicensed BWA
users (ITU, 2006).
BWA networks with their mobility and porta-
bility at the core, offer a variety of useful hybrid
architectures that will provide users with rich,
multimedia experience virtually at any time or
any place. In addition to that, recent technological
advances have increased the spectrum capabili-
ties to allow licensees to do more with the same
level of spectrum. However, the potential ability
to improve the lives of people ultimately depends
on the spectrum regulators making it available to
service providers.
association with BB penetration but pointed that
because of noise in the data, estimates did not
appear as statistically significant. In addition to
that, various other studies argue that both fixed
and mobile BB access capacities can increase
the ICT contribution by widening the choice of
services through applications in voice, audio,
video, e-commerce, e-education, e-health, e-
government, online interaction and information
sharing. Social impacts of many such applications
are highlighted by another group of research-
ers (Greenstein & Spiller, 1996, Sawyer, Allen
and Lee, 2003). In addition to the landline BB
networks, the increasing deployment of wireless
broadband access networks, because of its cost
advantage and special characteristics, is bringing
significant benefits all over the world. As ITU
mentioned in its report (2006), wireless broadband
technologies are stimulating the global economy
by enabling users to (1) freely access the internet
from anywhere (2) connect to the internet seam-
lessly using one single device and (3) by offering
access to resources and opportunities from all parts
of the world. Since the wireless broadband access
encompasses both fixed and mobile technologies,
the mobility feature has become more appealing
to users in recent years. It allows the user more
flexibility to access service from anywhere and
irrespective of stationary or mobile state of user.
In addition to fixed BB, mobile BB technology
using larger range directional equipment can
provide BB service to remote or sparsely popu-
lated areas where fixed BB service such as DSL
and Cable model would be costly to deploy. This
technology is more useful for many developing
countries where fixed communications networks
are not well developed. Therefore, access to this
technology is allowing them to Leap-Frog the
modern BB access technology even in the absence
of developed landline infrastructure.
Sharing of knowledge can be enhanced by
obtaining equitable access to the Internet which
is considered a source of information regarding
scientific, economic, social, political and cultural
Benefits of Broadband Access
Existing literature on endogenous growth theory
10
suggests that efficient transfer of knowledge
and information, because of its ability to produce
spillover effects, holds the key to higher economic
growth across world. However, efficient transmis-
sion of information is only feasible if a country has
well developed information and communications
technology infrastructure (ICT). A number of stud-
ies in the literature (Wildman, 1992; Loveman,
1994; Roller and Waverman, 1996; Gera, Wuling
& Lee, 1998; Nadiri & Nandi, 2001; Stiroh, 2002)
documented a close link between information and
communication technology (ICT) infrastructure
with productivity growth at the industry level as
well as at the aggregate economy level. Many
of these studies claim that deployment of BB
networks can enhance ICT contribution towards
growth by improving the quality of existing ICT
infrastructure and thus generating an outward
shift of the aggregate production function. Many
researchers study the benefits of BB diffusion
(Crandall & Jackson, 2001; Firth & Mellor, 2005;
Crandall, Lehr & Litan, 2007). Crandall, Lehr and
Litan (2007) in their recent study showed that
employment in both manufacturing and service
industries is positively related to BB penetration.
Regarding output growth, they also found positive
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