Accelerating Digital Connectivity Through Infrastructure Sharing

Strusani, Davide ; Houngbonon, Georges V.

International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC

关键词: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY;    DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY;    EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES;    DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE;    ICT INFRASTRUCTURE;   

RP-ID  :  147675

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Digital connectivity has enormouspotential to support development. Yet today some fourbillion people in emerging economies remain offline, partlydue to a lack of affordable Internet access. Sharinginfrastructure among operators and across sectors is apotential solution. It can accelerate digital connectivityat lower cost, especially in the least developed marketswhere returns to investment can be limited. It can alsoreduce investment costs and operating expenses for investorsand operators and increase their balance sheetsustainability. Sharing models can also benefit consumers byincreasing competition, lowering prices, and raising servicequality. The private sector has already embraced this model;further expansion requires targeted policies that promotecompetition and facilitate sharing.