Page 30 - Measuring digital development The affordability of ICT services 2024
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The affordability of ICT services
meet consumer needs. Operators in less These constraints help explain why, despite
mature telecommunication markets, with falling prices, the benefits of connectivity have
weaker consumer bases and less developed not reached all countries equally. Countries
infrastructure not only have to be more that started with high mobile-broadband prices
selective in their investment strategies but in 2019 saw slower improvements in network
also need to wait longer to recoup their coverage, Internet use and investment, even as
investments. For instance, an operator in a prices fell. This suggests that price reductions
developing economy that recently deployed alone are not enough: structural challenges
3G or 4G networks will prioritize optimizing the such as low income, limited investment and
services before investing in a more advanced weak demand must also be addressed to
network generation. unlock the full potential of connectivity.
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