fund network deployments in new technologies. Indeed, some stimulus plans and existing broadband plans focus on fi nancing plans for investment in ICT infrastructure, while recognizing that deployment is best carried out by the private sector. In the face of these challenges to corporate fi nancing, governments in some countries are now providing advantageous fi nancing terms to fund the roll-out of fi bre and NGN deployments. They are also experi-menting with innovative new fi nancing models to Public-Private Ownership of Figure 6 Incumbent Operators, 1991-2008 Status of the Main Fixed-Line Incumbent, 2008 Public/Private Ownership Worldwide , 1991-2008 90% Europe & CIS 80% 160 1991 Americas 1993 1995 70% 78% 140 Africa Arab States Asia-Pacific 2003 2005 2008 71% 1997 60% 120 Number of countries 1999 2001 50% 100 56% 52% 53% 40% 47% 48% 80 44% 30% 60 20% 29% 40 22% 10% 20 0% 0 State-owned Private State-owned Private Source: ITU World Telecommunication Regulatory Database. 49