Telecommunications Development in Asia

Citation

Yan, X. (2009), "Telecommunications Development in Asia", info, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 86-87. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636690910971008

Telecommunications has developed at an extraordinarily high speed in Asia during the last two decades. For instance, China has leapfrogged from a country with the lowest tele‐density to the one with the largest telecommunications networks in the world. In the mean time, innovative solutions such as GrameenPhone program in Bangladesh have significantly narrowed the digital divide in developing countries of this region. It is henceforth meaningful to conduct an in‐depth review of telecommunications development of certain Asian countries within the specific context of their unique policy approaches.

Telecommunications Development in Asia provides a comprehensive analysis of policies adopted throughout the region and their effects upon the rapid development of telecommunications. It addresses the latest market issues in the regional telecommunications sector and covers a spectrum of representative economies. It is a good continuation and extension of the book Telecommunications in Asia: Policy, Planning and Development, which was published in 1995. The coverage of this book is adequate and up‐to‐date.

The content of this book as a whole is logically organized. The first five chapters (Part I) provide a general review of key regulatory issues and market trends in the global telecommunications sector. These chapters enable readers to understand chapters in Part II, namely country studies on Asian telecommunications market, within a comprehensive context.

Chapter I provides an introductory review of almost all key aspects of telecommunications policy and regulation. It builds up a good framework to address policy issues in Asia in Part II of the book.

Chapter II focuses on network interconnection. It would be better if the case of Hong Kong were included to address access competition. Hong Kong in fact was the first economy in the world that has introduced local access competition. By taking the so‐called “Type II interconnection” regulation, or “local loop unbundling” regulation as early as 1995, new operators have impressively achieved 32 per cent facility‐based market share. By illustrating a case in Asia may make this chapter contextually more relevant.

Chapter III provides a historical review of the spectrum policy. It correctly points out that it is the effective allocation of spectrum that is the most important issue in overall spectrum policy.

Chapter IV addresses key issues in universal service provision. With reference to the experience of Latin America, the author illustrated some preliminary lessons on providing communal access to telecommunication services. The chapter closes with some comments on latest universal service policy.

Chapter V is a very well written chapter. On the basis of sound theoretical framework and solid analysis, the author conducts an in‐depth study of the taking‐off of telecommunication manufacturing industry in Asia. The latest innovation model with end users especially lead users integrated into the value network is perhaps one of the key factors that have enabled the rapid development of Asia's telecommunications manufacturing industry.

Part II starts with a comparative study of China and India. It is meaningful to compare the telecommunications market and policy of these two countries as many people believe that the emerging competition between the “dragon” and the “elephant” will have significant implications to the world's economy. Chapter VI provides a comprehensive comparison between these two countries in terms of regulator, interconnection, legal framework and other relevant issues.

The remaining chapters in Part II cover 15 other economies in Asia. The structure of these chapters is consistent and the coverage is similar, which makes it easier for readers to compare the policy of each individual country.

The strength of this book lies in its coverage. Telecommunications policy in many small and developing countries covered in this book have not been well studied by published literatures. This book builds up a good foundation for further studies of this region in the future.

What is missing in this book is a chapter that summarizes Asia's telecommunications development after reviewing the development of each individual country.

This book will be a good guidance for foreign industrial investors to understand the dynamics of Asian telecommunications market.