The Impact of Shared Telecom Infrastructure on Digital Connectivity and Inclusion

Konferenzbeitrag

A substantial number of individuals remains unconnected to the Internet despite an increasing emphasis on infrastructure-based competition. This paper investigates the impact of shared telecom infrastructure on digital connectivity and inclusion using a new dataset on mobile tower sharing transactions between 2008 and 2020, i.e., acquisitions of towers by independent companies from mobile network operators to be rented back to all operators. Estimates based on differencein- differences with different timing of treatment suggest that these transactions resulted in a significant drop in the price of mobile connectivity as well as an increase in availability and uptake of mobile Internet, especially by rural households and women. Our findings suggest that increased competition intensity through reduced market concentration appears to be the main driver of these outcomes.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: 32nd European Conference of the International Telecommunications Society (ITS): "Realising the digital decade in the European Union – Easier said than done?", Madrid, Spain, 19th - 20th June 2023

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Telecommunications ; Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks ; Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
• Subject: Mobile Telecommunications ; Vertical Integration ; Digital Technology Adoption

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Houngbonon, Georges V. ; Ivaldi, Marc ; Palikot, Emil ; Strusani, Davide
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): International Telecommunications Society (ITS)
• (where): Calgary
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/277970
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET