info - the journal of policy, regulation and strategy for
telecommunications, information and media
Special issue:
"Network Development: Wireless Applications for the Next Billion New Users"
This special issue focused on wireless applications for the next billion
users will examine priority issues relating to the extension of ICT
infrastructure to the world’s unconnected poor, with particular
reference to the design of innovative strategies for network
development. The guest editors, Professor W.H. Meldoy and Amy Mahan,
welcome the submission of draft material or work in progress based on
current or recently completed research for possible publication in this
special issue.
Deadline for submission: Monday, 4 August 2008.
See article submission details below.
Mobile telephony has brought first line access to the information
society to much of the developing world. But beyond mobile handsets for
voice, most information society services have yet to be realized, and
there are still billions of people without any access. Both the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) Targets are focused on 2015 for achieving poverty
alleviation and connectivity for the poorest of the world’s poor.
The next stage extension of global network development is being
supported by new wireless technologies and a better understanding of the
economic, social and cultural circumstances of the unserved and
minimally served poor. But it is also being restrained by many market
structures, policies and regulations based on obsolete historical models
of service provisioning. New market models and proactive regulation will
be required as the next billion users are poorer and more difficult to
reach for a variety of reasons - geographic, social and economic.
Network development must increasingly (and urgently) be informed by a
better understanding of how the poor value and use communication
technologies. The research community has begun to give greater priority
to these issues, often revealing counter-intuitive results. For example,
recent research in the LIRNE network has provided new explanations about
the price elasticity for communications use at the bottom of the pyramid
as well as the usage patterns of the poor. It is now documented that low
income users typically spend a higher proportion of their income on
communications.
This special issue of new wireless applications for the next billion
users will examine priority issues relating to the extension of ICT
infrastructure to the world’s unconnected poor, with particular
reference to the design of innovative strategies for network
development. Given the opportunities provided by new and emerging
wireless technologies, and the rapid erosion of the relevance of
traditional service and product models, creativity in the design and
implementation of connectivity solutions is needed. This special issue
intends to highlight current research on innovative strategies for the
next stage of network development.
The guest editors welcome the submission of draft material or work in
progress based on current or recently completed research for possible
publication in this special issue. Research published in this special
issue will be subject to the info review process in addition to review
and editing by the guest editors.
Illustrative topics that will be considered include, but are in no way
limited to the following:
* Measuring mobile penetration, defining mobile users
* Pro-poor mobile applications and services
* Services for the financially constrained and developed economy
services: a comparative assessment of demand and uptake
* M-banking services for the unbanked
* SME mobile use in developing economies
* Emerging technologies for reducing costs of network development
* Impact of national regulation on excluded communities or minorities
* Regulation for promoting innovation and alternative network
development
* Mobile broadband, telephony usage patterns and poverty
* Emerging technologies, markets and new business models
* Developing country case studies of mobile diffusion
* Mobile telephony - access path to the Internet
* Universal access policies and mobile and wireless technologies
* Mobile telephony and economic development
Journal guidelines for authors can be found here:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/info/journals/info/notes.jsp
Contact: mahan [at] lirne.net
Submission Synopsis:
Submission of draft material or work in progress (should be near
completion): Monday, 4 August 2008
Length:
Full length papers: 4,000-6000 words
Viewpoints: 2,000-3,000 words
To be sent to: mahan [at] lirne.net
Notification of acceptance: Friday, 29 August 2008
Referee comments delivered by: Monday, 15 September
Final versions to be submitted by: Monday, 10 November 2008
Publication: March 2009
http://lirne.net/2008/07/info-special-issue-%e2%80%93-network-development-wireless-applications-for-the-next-billion-new-users/
__________________________________
Amy Mahan, LIRNE.NET Coordinator
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: +598.2.410 2979
Fax: +44.870.759 8283
www.LIRNE.net
__________________________________
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