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New global broadband study: national plans and competitive markets are
crucial
New report shows first clear correlation between
National Broadband
Plans and citizens’ access to affordable services
Geneva, 1 July 2013 – Countries with a clearly-defined national vision
for broadband roll-out are significantly out-performing those taking a more
laissez-faire approach to broadband development, according to a new joint report
just released by ITU, the
Broadband Commission for Digital Development and network equipment maker
Cisco Systems
According to new research undertaken by ITU analysts for Planning for
Progress: Why National Broadband Plans Matter, raw data indicates that
countries with a National Broadband Plan have fixed broadband penetration some
8.7% higher on average than countries without plans. Once the potential impact
of factors like higher average income per capita, market concentration and
urbanization are discounted, research suggests that countries with plans benefit
from fixed broadband penetration on average 2.5% higher than countries without
plans – a significant margin of advantage in an increasingly interconnected
global economy.
In mobile, the impact may be even greater – countries which have National
Broadband Plans also have mobile broadband penetration some 7.4% higher on
average than countries without plans.
The report concludes that market competition also plays a strong role in
boosting broadband penetration. Competitive markets are associated with
broadband penetration levels some 1.4% higher on average for fixed broadband and
up to 26.5% higher on average for mobile broadband.
“The Broadband Commission’s message about the power of broadband to transform
each and every economic sector is now gaining global traction,” said ITU
Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun I. Toure. “Governments are realizing that
broadband networks are not just vital to national competitiveness, but to the
delivery of education, healthcare, public utilities like energy and water,
environmental management, and a whole host of government services. Broadband is
the key enabler not just of human interaction, but of the machine-to-machine
communications systems that will underpin tomorrow’s world.”
“Broadband plans clearly matter,” said Dr Robert Pepper, Vice President of
Global Technology Policy for Cisco Systems. “Plans spur adoption, accelerating
economic growth and increasing national competitiveness. The role of policy is
to set a vision for broadband development and ensure a level playing field which
then allows for the best ideas to prosper.”
The report also documents strong recent growth in National Broadband Plans,
with 134 plans in force by mid-2013. Plans may take different forms
(legislation, policy frameworks, government strategy and/or regulations), but
all share a common emphasis on the vital role of broadband in underpinning
national competitiveness, and aim to extend the national footprint of broadband
networks and drive increased use of broadband-enabled services and applications.
The full economic and social benefits are most likely to be realized where
there is strong partnership between government and industry, and where
governments engage in a consultative, participatory approach to policy in
conjunction with key stakeholders, the report says.
Downloadable statistical charts:
A growing role for policy leadership – countries with
national broadband plans (worldwide)
Source: ITU and the
Broadband Commission for Digital Development.
Status of countries and plans, mid-2013
Source: ITU and the
Broadband Commission for Digital Development.
What do plans focus on? Issues addressed by broadband
policies (worldwide)
Source: ITU and the
Broadband Commission for Digital Development.
An Executive Summary of the report’s findings can be found at:
www.broadbandcommission.org/documents/executivesummaryNBP2013.pdf
Download the full version of the report at:
www.broadbandcommission.org/documents/reportNBP2013.pdf
For more information on the Broadband Commission, visit: www.broadbandcommission.org
Follow the Broadband Commission on Facebook: www.facebook.com/broadbandcommission>
Follow the Broadband Commission on Twitter: www.itu.int/twitter
Audio recording from ITU press conference 01 July 2013 is
available at: http://bit.ly/19Qvb4T
Note to media: ITU’s video newsroom provides fast access
to broadcast-quality footage and news packages.
Register at
www.itu.int/en/newsroom/Pages/videos.aspx
For more information, please contact:
At ITU:
Paul Conneally
Head, Communications and Partnership Promotion
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At Cisco Systems:
Jennifer Dunn
Senior PR Manager, Cisco Systems
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