Closing the digital divide: who will invest in universal access?

Abstract

It is estimated that by 2007 the milestone of two billion mobile users will be achieved, with the three billion mark being claimed as a realistic target for 2010. This in turn bodes well for the goal of 50% access to telecommunications by 2015, set by the WSIS initiative. However the barrier appears to be a workable model for connecting these people to the network. The World Bank suggests that 77% of the world’s population already lives within range of a mobile network. Whilst most wealthy economic states have already been targeted and serviced, for the next stage to be accomplished growth must take place in other markets.