Meheroo Jussawalla

The impact of ICT convergence on development in the Asian region

Emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region are experiencing dramatic and accelerating changes in patterns of ownership and investment in their telecommunications sectors, as well as in convergence. This paper will highlight the significant dependence of emerging economies of the region on convergence of ICT and how these technologies create new networks. Evidence will be cited from China, the Asian Dragons and the near NIEs like Malaysia and Indonesia, to show how they have created one of the largest markets in the world for telecoms equipment and services. The Southeast Asian countries with their open economies and export oriented investment technologies have proved that such policies have generated trade surpluses and long-term growth despite their current financial crises. They still plan to continue ascribing priority in their investment patterns to converging ICT.

The Pacific Islands: Policy options for telecommunications investment

The Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development (Maitland Commission) reported that telecommunication networks, including public telephone systems, are an infrastructure which aids economic development throughout the world. The Commissions objective is to bring the majority of the worlds population within easy access of a telephone and, in time, other communications services. Development in the Pacific Islands region is slowed by a lack of efficient communications. The islands are spread over 29 million square kilometers of ocean and extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. Pacific Island Nations (PINs) have problems of foreign exchange, skill shortages, and poor credit terms. Telecommunications infrastructure audits showed the overall regional teledensity of 3 telephones per 100 population. The individual countries vary form 8.3 in Fiji to 1.5 in Papua New Guinea and 25.2 in New Zealand. The population of the developing island countries is in mostly rural areas where there is a chronic shortage of telephones. The constraints on radio systems can be overcome with satellite technology. The new technologies are coming on the market faster than these countries can afford to handle them. By using satellite technology and sharing facilities PINs can greatly reduce the cost of telecommunications systems. Fiber optic cables will be used to carry large volumes of traffic over major routes while satellites can be used for a array of services for the smallest PIN nation to the largest route rim country. Work is being done to standardize the equipment specifications and to develop policies for the coordination of regional telecommunications training. To further facilitate communications development in this area, changes need to be made in international funding priorities for development, and recommendations by the Maitland Commission must be taken seriously.

The economic implications of satellite technology and the industrialization of space

This article examines the economic issues emerging from systems options in space industrialization, allocation of orbital space and the impact of satellite technology on economic development. The economics of space industrialization involve most areas of economic analysis, including market failures, regulation and the theory of economic development. With the global economy wavering between recessions and upturns, and with the debts of developing countries threatening the international banking system, the economic impact of satellite technology becomes increasingly relevant.

US provision of telecommunications goods and services in the PRC: Chinese policies and American strategies

Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Chinese economy today. In the face of this growth, the governments traditional approach of strong centralized planning and control is proving ineffective and showing signs of changing. Foreign firms interested in entering Chinas telecommunication market must adjust their strategies accordingly. This paper presents recent research on foreign investment in Chinas telecommunications sector with particular attention given to the entry by US firms into that market. The findings are based on interviews with government officials, Chinese representatives of US firms, US business people and embassy officers.

Is the communications link still missing

Telecommunications infrastructure growth in the less-developed countries (LDCs) remains a critical problem not adequately addressed by international loan agencies. The traditional theories of communications development have been implemented with varying results and variations by newly industrialized economies and LDCs. This article discusses telecommunications development in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Arab nations and ways that structural adjustments at the ITU, World Bank and GATT can facilitate varying needs and assist with development imperatives in these nations.

The race for telecommunication technology: The USA v Japan

Innovations in information technology are driving the USA and Japan into greater interdependence and reduced competition. However, the policies of the two countries towards supplying global telecommunications networks and towards their export earnings are diverging. This article examines the policies and history of both US and Japanese business and government towards investment in communications and computer technologies. Deregulation has been an important influence in both countries. The Japanese have responded to fierce US protectionism and competition by fundamentally changing their production strategy and turning to more offshore operations, involving many adjustments for Japanese management.

Telecommunications and IT in Pacific Islands development

This article examines the impact and implications of telecommunications and information technologies against the backdrop of development aspirations in three ‘representative’ Pacific Island nations—the Cook Islands, Republic of Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. These three countries represent a wide range of development potential—from the relatively mature, export economy of Fiji; to the resource‐rich Papua New Guinea; and tourism‐dependent Cook Islands—as well as provide a sampling of the divergent approaches to development and the perceived role that technology is expected to play. This article specifically focuses on the broad social, economic, and political impact of recent telecommunications developments. Such developments are considered in the light of each countrys individual development programmes and their common desire to increase their respective participation in the global economy. It is argued that if development aspirations are to be realized, respective national telecommunication policies must a...

HDTV and the electronics industries of the East Asian NIEs

High Definition Television (HDTV) is expected to provide opportunities for and threats to the electronics industries of the East Asian Newly Industrialized Economies (EANIEs). Not all of them will be able to get involved in the core technologies, and will have to resort to involvement in complementary and ancillary technologies. They will have to co‐operate with the firms of developed countries to participate fully in HDTV.

The economics of delayed access: Developing nations and satellite technology

Abstract This paper examines the international economic imperatives underlying the allocation of the geostationary orbit in which communication satellites are located. The authors analyse the debate over various solutions to the exploding demand for the orbit that have been offered from time to time, such as spectrum leasing, differential rents and the establishment of stakeholder rights. An alternative solution is offered in the application of investment theory which enables developing countries to continue to reap mitigating benefits from the technology, despite the lack of ownership rights.