ICT Impact and Policies

Researchers studying the intersection of telecommunications infrastructure and economic development examine how access to broadband, mobile networks, and internet services shapes productivity, income, and opportunity—particularly in rural and underserved regions. The central concern is not simply whether connectivity exists, but whether gaps in access translate into lasting economic and social disadvantage, a problem commonly called the digital divide. Policy questions are equally pressing: how governments regulate network neutrality, allocate spectrum, and subsidize infrastructure directly affects who benefits from ICT growth and on what terms. Active debates include how to measure the causal contribution of broadband to economic output and how to design regulation that promotes both private investment and equitable access.

Works

153,448

Total citations

731,995

Keywords

TelecommunicationsEconomic DevelopmentDigital DivideICTBroadbandInternet