Abstract
Providing network connectivity to rural regions in the developing world is an economically challenging problem especially given the low income levels and low population densities in such regions. Many existing connectivity technologies incur a high deployment cost that limits their affordability. Leveraging several emerging wireless technologies, this paper presents the case for economically viable networks in rural developing regions. We use the Akshaya Network located in Kerala, India as a specific case study. and show that a wireless network using WiFi for the backhaul, CDMA450 for the access network, and shared PCs for end user devices has the lowest deployment cost. However, if we include the expected spectrum licensing cost for CDMA450, a network with lease exempt spectrum using WiFi for the backhaul and WiMax for access is the most economically attractive option. Even with license exemption, regulatory costs comprise nearly half the total cost in the WiFi/WiMax case suggesting the possibility of significant improvement in network economics with more favorable regulatory policies. Finally, we also demonstrate the business case for a WiFi/CDMA450 network with nearly fully subsidized cellular handsets as end user devices.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Badiane, O., Shively, G.E.: Spatial Integration, Transport costs, and the Response of Local Prices to Policy Changes in Ghana. Journal of Development Economics 56, 411–431 (1998)
Prahalad, C.K.: Fortune at the bottom of the pyramid: Eradicating poverty through profit. Technical report, Wharton School Publishing (2005)
Asian Telco Technology Primer - CDMA450: Perpetuating Asia’s Growth + Profitability Story? Technical report, Lehman Brothers, June 10 (2004)
Mishra, S.M., et al.: Economic Analysis of Networking Technologies for Rural Developing Regions. Technical Report UCB/CSD-05-1411, University of California Berkeley (September 2005)
Wu, G.: Using the RF Spectrum for WiMAX. EEtimes (May 2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Mishra, S.M., Hwang, J., Filippini, D., Moazzami, R., Subramanian, L., Du, T. (2005). Economic Analysis of Networking Technologies for Rural Developing Regions. In: Deng, X., Ye, Y. (eds) Internet and Network Economics. WINE 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3828. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11600930_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11600930_19
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-30900-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-32293-1
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)