The objective of this project is to outline possible strategies (focusing on public policy) to increase broadband penetration in the rural areas in Ghana. Currently, broadband penetration in Africa is 0.3% and it is expected to grow to 1.3% in the next five years. More of that growth will be through mobile connections because the fixed infrastructure is just not there. It is therefore expected that more than 60% of broadband connections will be accounted for by High Speed Packet Download Access (HSPDA), Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX. [Source: Africa Review July 2009 edition Page 27].
The expected result of the proposed policy is to stimulate increased broadband penetration in the rural areas. This may be useful to government, telecom companies, ISPs, etc and the rural folks. This will help government to bridge the gap between the urban and rural areas. It will also be useful to sectors like agriculture, health, education, communication, finance, market information, commerce, and governance. The telecom companies, ISPs, etc, will benefit in terms of taking advantage to analyze, invest and make profit for the sale of broadband for internet connectivity in the rural areas. Some feasibility studies will need to justify its viability though. Concerning the rural folks, there will be improvement in their standard of living. This is because as will be seen later, broadband penetration brings about improvement in the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the areas of implementation. Rural farmers may by the use of the internet have access to a broader market compared to the “limited market queens” who buy their products at very low prices and thus keeping them poor. Lots more other sectors of the economy will benefit from broadband penetration to the rural areas. For example, the financial sector and specifically the banks and insurance companies will now be in a better position to operate better in these areas. This is because of the increased means of communication.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Chapter One
- PROBLEM FORMULATION AND INTRODUCTION
- Project Objective
- Outcome
- Scope
- Introduction
- Research Questions
- Methodologies
- Chapter Two
- LITERATURE REVIEW
- Public Policy
- Internet Access
- Definition of Broadband
- Policy Issues
- Broadband Policies in Developed and Developing
- Broadband Strategies in Developed Countries (OECD)
- European Union
- Korea
- Broadband Policies in Developing Countries
- Broadband Penetration in Africa
- Broadband Penetration in Ghana
- Broadband Penetration in Rural areas in Ghana
- Chapter Three
- STATISTICS AND SET TARGETS
- Statistics
- Implication of internet users and populations statistics
- Set targets
- Chapter Four
- Government proposed strategies for broadband penetration
- Summary of Government strategies
- 50% broadband penetration by 2015
- Anticipated Increase in GDP Growth
- Broadband penetration and Gov't Requirements
- Education and ICT Skills Improvement
- Chapter Five
- "What strategies should be put in place to increase broadband penetration to rural areas in Ghana?"
- Approaches to policy design
- Benefits of Broadband to the rural populace
- Potential Barriers to investors that must be overcome
- How can regulator reduce risk for an investor
- What are potential bottlenecks in the supply chain
- How can spectrum be designed to encourage investments in the rural areas
- How can policy makers decrease price of broadband in rural areas
- How can Ghana learn from the experience of other countries?
- How can the "broadband gap" between urban and rural areas be addressed?
- How can Gov't increase education and ICT Skills in the rural areas
- Chapter Six
- Strategies to increase broadband penetration in rural areas in Ghana
- Expected Benefits of broadband penetration in rural Ghana
- Agriculture
- Education
- Industry
- Health
- Governance
- Finance
- Commerce
- Communications
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper analyzes the current state of broadband penetration in rural Ghana and proposes strategies, primarily focusing on public policy, to enhance its reach. The project aims to identify key barriers hindering broadband adoption in rural areas and recommend policy solutions to address these challenges. The paper explores the potential benefits of increased broadband penetration for various sectors in rural Ghana, including agriculture, education, health, and economic development. Here are some key themes explored in the paper: * **The Importance of Broadband for Rural Development:** The paper emphasizes the significant impact of broadband penetration on rural communities, fostering economic growth, social progress, and improved quality of life. * **Understanding Barriers to Broadband Adoption:** The paper identifies various factors contributing to the limited broadband penetration in rural Ghana, including infrastructure limitations, affordability issues, and lack of awareness. * **Developing Effective Public Policies:** The paper emphasizes the crucial role of government policies in promoting broadband expansion, including financial incentives, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure development. * **Lessons Learned from Other Countries:** The paper draws insights from broadband initiatives in other developing countries to inform best practices and policy recommendations for Ghana. * **Addressing Digital Divide and Promoting Inclusivity:** The paper recognizes the importance of bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to broadband for all, particularly in underserved rural communities.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
**Chapter One:** This introductory chapter establishes the project's objective, which is to outline possible public policy strategies for increasing broadband penetration in rural Ghana. It highlights the significance of broadband for economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries like Ghana. The chapter then identifies key challenges hindering broadband adoption in rural areas, including limited infrastructure, low computer literacy, and affordability issues. **Chapter Two:** This chapter delves into a comprehensive review of relevant literature on broadband policy, focusing on both developed and developing countries. The chapter examines international best practices and existing broadband strategies in countries like Korea, the European Union, and OECD members. It also analyzes the current state of broadband penetration in Africa, particularly in Ghana, identifying specific challenges and opportunities for rural areas. **Chapter Three:** This chapter provides a detailed statistical overview of internet usage and population demographics in Ghana. It analyzes the implications of these statistics for broadband adoption and sets targets for desired broadband penetration levels. This chapter lays the foundation for formulating specific policy recommendations. **Chapter Four:** This chapter examines government-proposed strategies for increasing broadband penetration in Ghana. It analyzes current policies and initiatives aimed at achieving a target of 50% broadband penetration by 2015. The chapter explores the potential impact of increased broadband on GDP growth and discusses government requirements for achieving these goals. **Chapter Five:** This chapter delves into specific policy design approaches for promoting broadband adoption in rural areas. It analyzes the potential benefits of broadband for the rural populace, highlighting the need to overcome barriers to investor participation. The chapter explores potential bottlenecks in the supply chain and discusses strategies for encouraging investments in rural areas. It also examines how to address the digital divide and make broadband more affordable in rural communities. **Chapter Six:** This chapter outlines practical strategies for increasing broadband penetration in rural Ghana. It examines potential benefits across various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, finance, and commerce. This chapter provides a detailed roadmap for implementing effective policies and initiatives.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this work include: broadband penetration, rural development, public policy, Ghana, digital divide, infrastructure development, affordability, education, health, agriculture, economic growth, government strategy, policy design, and investment incentives. The paper primarily focuses on the development and implementation of effective policies to increase broadband access in rural areas, contributing to broader goals of social and economic development.- Quote paper
- Kwasi Addo (Author), 2010, Proposed strategies (focusing on public policy) for increased broadband penetration in the rural areas in Ghana, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/183395
