Reducing corruption in the telecommunications sector requires licensing reforms. Liberalisation ignored known risks of corruption in both developing countries and in the telecommunications sector, allowing bribery, cronyism and nepotism to enter and to flourish. A discussion of past and present...

The term world class is used in some broadband plans, as a target. Comparisons with other countries are beneficial, though not straightforward, in measuring progress. Claims about improvements to national competitiveness and economic growth are difficult to determine, given that economic rivals...

The Scottish National Party (SNP) government in Scotland has published an outline of how it wishes economic and competition regulation to operate in the event that it is successful in persuading the residents of Scotland to vote in September 2014 for independence in March 2016. It envisages a...

If the plebiscite in Scotland, due in autumn 2014, results in its independence from the United Kingdom, it is expected to become a member state of the European Union (EU). One consequence of this is that Scotland would be required, by the acquis communitaire, to create a considerable number of...

Corruption has been identified as a significant issue in telecommunications, seen in bribery and nepotism over many years, raising questions as to whether there are comparable problems with the Internet. Complex systems of Internet governance have excluded the issue, failing to put in place any...

The Smith Commission completed its work in short order, producing an agreement that would see significant further powers devolved to the Scottish government and parliament. Amongst the arrangements were some additional powers for the Scottish government concerning the work of the Office of...

In the course of investigations into his successor concerning the '2G spectrum scam' allegations were made against Dayanidhi Maran MP, formerly Minister of Communication and Information Technology in India. He has been charged with violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, alleging he...

The proposal for a wireless infrastructure strategy is at odds with the absence of a strategy for fixed broadband and the process created around the National Infrastructure Strategy. The original purpose of creating OFTEL, later replaced by OFCOM, was to provide long term stability for...

Twenty years of telecommunications under an ANC government has seen a dramatic rise in access to telephony, as a result of the success of two mobile network operators: MTN and Vodacom. By comparison, the efforts of government have been disappointing in policy formulation, in regulation, in...

Telecommunications was one of the first markets to become part of what today comprises the regulatory state, shifting risks and rewards towards the private sector, subject to regulation. Parliamentary has oversight of policies, the regulator and subventions from HM Treasury, which are necessary...