NOTAS: | Given different regulatory approaches and their intersection with different state bodies, technologies and institutions: what role can regulators play in stimulating the much needed investment in infrastructure development? Traditionally, neither regulators, policymakers, industry players or analysts have considered that stimulating investment in network development is a priority goal of regulation. Rather regulation has been seen as primarily concerned with issues of distribution rather than production, i.e., reasonable prices, universal access. Yet it seems clear that for the immediate future, stimulating investment in network development will be essential to ICT sector policy objectives.
Because of this, the research and dialogue theme for the second WDR cycle has been, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators. This report is the result of this research and dialogue. Its analysis of the theory and literature in light of a number of detailed case studies demonstrates that investment in network development has not received, and is currently not receiving the priority attention by regulators needed for significant network development. We hope the WDR research and dialogue cycle, and this report will help rectify this deficiency. |