Brough Turner on the importance of telecom investment
In summary, the research draws the following conclusion: for a developing economy, investment in telecommunications is more productive than any other kind of investment — roads, electricity, or even education.
Report is here.
None of this is to downplay the developing world’s need for clean water, public health initiatives, and access to medical care, but if there is one area where capital investment provides outsized returns for individuals and nations, it is mobile telecom. And telecom is one area where developing nations can easily attract outside capital investment with regulatory policies that favor open access and competition. Best of all, mobile handsets work without a permanent electricity supply, people can use them without learning to read or write, and technology advances continuously drive down costs.
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