Jason Whalley

Northumbria University · Newcastle Business School

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for improving the implementation of universal service funds (USF) with a view to closing the digital divide in Africa. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a qualitative approach that draws examples from various African countries supported by 25 interview...

The evaluation of candidate International Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT-2020) radio interfaces ended in February 2021, with three technologies being approved while another two were granted additional time to demonstrate their suitability. This marks a useful milestone at which the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) standardization...

Purpose Smart villages (SVs) have lately attracted considerable attention, but what does the term mean? This literature review aims to explore its ambiguous nature and to identify main theoretical and practical aspects to be further explored in the conceptualisation and implementation of these initiatives. Design/methodology/approach The analysis...

This paper explores multilevel governance (MLG) in the context of state aid programmes for the diffusion of broadband in the European Union. By comparing three EU Member States (Italy, Spain and the UK), the qualitative analysis illustrates how MLG affects both the implementation of public interventions and the reduction of regional inequalities in...

ABSTRACT: Technology-enabled care services (TECS) are primarily provided in the UK as a public service, using public funds and national systems of health and care. The delivery of such services, however, is increasingly market orientated and subject to many challenges. The authors draw on the literature and case study evidence, to explore the valu...

Although digitisation offers numerous opportunities for rural areas, they still lag behind cities in terms of access and adoption of Internet-based services. This divide is the result of multiple market failures in both the demand and supply of broadband access, which have been addressed through public, private and community-led initiatives. Based...

Purpose: This paper aims to study the evolution of IoT definitions through time, critically assess the knowledge these definitions contain, and facilitate sensemaking by providing those unfamiliar with IoT with a theoretical definition and an extended framework. Design/methodology: Using snowball sampling, we collected 164 articles between 2005 an...

In this contribution to a ‘call for evidence’ by the House of Lords (UK), we investigate the pivotal role of the Internet during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Internet has enabled many to work from home, to shop and be educated online, and keep in touch with colleagues and friends. The swift move online of many activities raised concerns about the rob...

The presence of developing countries in the ITU-R has evolved over time. Prior to 1950, the ITU was controlled by a small number of European countries, namely France, the UK, Italy and Portugal, that directed the votes of their colonies in Africa, Asia and elsewhere.

If the right to use a frequency is to be sold, the nature of that right would have to be precisely defined. In defining property rights, it would be necessary to take into account the existence of international agreements on the use of radio frequencies.

This chapter focuses on the most recent World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-19, which was held in Egypt and lasted for around a month. Not only was this the first WRC since 2000 to be held outside Geneva (Switzerland), but more than 3500 participants attended.

Frequency assignment is considered as the last stage of spectrum management where the regulator decides on how to award the frequencies to the operators or end-users.

Advocates of a unique solution to the exclusive vs. shared approach dilemma have been wasting everybody’s time by promoting the virtues of a single-sided approach to reforming radio wave management.

Technology selection is a key element of spectrum management where the regulator may allow technology neutrality or predetermine particular technologies to be deployed by operators as in the case of the ‘command and control’ approach. With respect to personal mobile cellular communication, which is the focus of this chapter, the ITU-R has been invo...

The international radio spectrum management regime is one of the oldest still in operation, with the main treaty of the regime, the radio regulations (RR), turning 115 in 2021. However, there has been criticism that the radio sector of the ITU has become increasingly irrelevant to today’s wireless world, especially as some countries began to plan t...

This book’s main argument is that it is time to revise the more than 100-year-old radio regulations that have, in several instances, blocked technology innovation and restricted the sovereignty of countries over radio spectrum, one of the most important resources today. Recent WRCs have highlighted some of the pitfalls in ITU-R decision-making proc...

This book provides an in-depth introduction to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) and the policies that govern them. Established in 1906, these regulations define the allocation of different frequency bands to different radio services, the mandatory technical parameters to be observed by radio stations, especiall...

Determining the type of spectrum usage rights is an important component of spectrum management. These rights can be exclusive, where spectrum users have individual access to the spectrum, or collective, where there is common access to spectrum without exclusive property rights.

All stations, whatever their purpose, must be established and operated in such a manner as not to cause harmful interference to the radio services or communications of other Members or of recognized operating agencies, or of other duly authorized operating agencies which carry on a radio service, and which operate in accordance with the provisions...

A rising elderly population in England, together with the prevalence of long-term chronic health conditions and higher demands for social care, raise significant issues in terms of financing the provision of telehealthcare services. These emerging technologies can potentially provide more meaningful opportunities for operational efficiency and cost...

There is much market hype about the potential of IoT to transform firms and industries. Taking perspective of actors in the quadruple helix—industry, government, universities and end users—we consider the enabling opportunities and challenges that IoT brings. Enabling opportunities for firms include firm purpose reconfiguration, competitive disrupt...

Over the last few years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has caught the imagination. The number of IoT connections is expected to rapidly grow, with some commentators forecasting 100 billion connected devices by 2025. This chapter outlines the far-reaching scope of the IoT, in terms of the areas where it has been adopted and potential revenues that it...

This chapter focuses on patenting activity within the context of IoT. After outlining the technological convergence that has been facilitated by the emergence of the IoT, the chapter focuses on identifying the most active patenting firms. The chapter shows how the most active patenting firms are manufacturing firms, and that rate of patenting activ...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to chart the growth of Millicom, a Luxembourg based but international operator of cable and mobile telecommunication networks. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal case study approach is adopted covering the period 1990–2019 (inclusive). Data are drawn from multiple sources, including annual reports of Mi...

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing a period of intense progress due to the consolidation of several key technological enablers. AI is already deployed widely and has a high impact on work and daily life activities. The continuation of this process will likely contribute to deep economic and social changes. To realise the trem...

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee launched an inquiry into Rural broadband and digital only services. The final EFRA report, citing our research, can be found at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvfru/2223/2223.pdf

In July 2016, OFCOM launched a consultation on the design of Universal Service Obligation for broadband access in the UK. The final report, citing our research, can be found at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/broadband-uso

The European Commission has recently sought to substantially revise how it regulates the telecommunication industry, with a key goal being to incentivise investment in high-speed broadband networks. Ambitious goals to incentivise investment in high-speed broadband networks have been set across the European Union, initially in the ‘Digital Agenda fo...

This book focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT has caught the imagination as a transformational technology that will positively impact a large and diverse array of socio-economic activities. This book explores this impact, beginning with a chapter highlighting the promises and complexities of the IoT. It then explores these in greater detai...

Many governments have recognised the socio-economic importance of broadband. The market often provides a broadband connection but when this does not occur governments have stepped in. Through focusing on one government intervention, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) in the UK, this paper highlights the cost of providing broadband connections to areas un...

Theoretical and empirical work conducted around disruptive activity within industry has previously been restricted to the free market, even if ad hoc government interference has occurred. This book makes a unique evaluation of a situation that prevails across a significant part of the industrial sector: where involvement is subject to the acquisit...

Over the last decade or so, access to broadband services has become increasingly important. While many in the UK already benefit from the provision of broadband, some, especially those located in more rural and remote areas, do not – they may not be able to access the Internet and when they do, their connection and consumer experience may be poor....

This paper reviews ITU-R actions with respect to IMT standardisation, and explores how these actions affect national spectrum management decisions such as those related to technology neutrality. Our analysis, which is based on 52 interviews, demonstrates that the IMT standardisation activities do not explicitly influence the decision of the regulat...

EU broadband policy has been described as an example of multi-level governance (MLG) involving manifold actors across different sectors and levels of government. Whereas the extant literature has largely explored the interaction among public and private players and between national and supranational regulators in the context of the EU broadband mar...

Strong dynamics and multifaceted innovations characterise the Internet. In this rapidly evolving ecosystem, challenges but also questions concerning innovation, integration and sustainability arise. The Internet of things brings disruptive innovations which are no longer limited to communication applications, but rather spur the transition of tradi...

Purpose This paper aims to shed light on the development of Altice, a French-based but multinational operator of cable and mobile networks. Design/methodology/approach A detailed longitudinal case study approach is adopted covering the period 2002 to 2018 (inclusive). Data are drawn from multiple sources, including the annual reports of Altice,...

Smart farming, e-health and e-commerce are just some of the multiple opportunities that digitisation offers to rural communities and businesses. Their ability though to participate in the digital economy is often compromised by a lack of high-speed connectivity. Despite the numerous initiatives launched over the years to promote broadband diffusion...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine in a fully up-to-date manner the position in respect of the licensing and launch of Long-term Evolution (LTE) in a region that attracts relatively little attention when treated as a whole because the emphasis is usually upon the very large individual markets (China, India, Japan) contained within it....

Energy companies and other utility providers have been often involved in the provision of telecommunications services. Nevertheless, their contribution to broadband development has varied significantly over time. In the late 1990s, both local and national utilities in the European Union (EU) engaged in the provision of broadband networks, but only...

Broadband has been described as a transforming technology and is now widely available in many developed countries. However, broadband availability is not the same as broadband adoption. If the socio-economic benefits of broadband are to be realized, then adoption needs to be both understood and encouraged. This is particularly important in rural an...

The rising elderly demographic, often with long-term conditions, represents a significant challenge globally in terms of planning for the efficient use of increasingly expensive and constrained health care resources. The internet of things (IoT) emerged as a disruptive and transformative new technology that could potentially stimulate development o...

Purpose The purpose is to examine the current provision of high-speed data networks on the African continent, in particular taking into account both licences and launches related to long-tern evolution (LTE). Design/methodology/approach An up-to-date underlying database of licences and launches relating to LTE in Africa has been compiled. There...

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly becoming an important component of economic development. Luxembourg’s ICT sector is usually characterized as performing admirably - it is often at the top-end of different indices and international league tables. Nevertheless, headline statistics and high-level assessments often disg...

The WRC-15 was the peak of African participation and contributions in the ITU-R with the first African to chair a WRC. However, there have been different elements within the international radio regulations that did have a restrictive influence on the African international spectrum policy during WRC-15. In particular, the discussion within ITU-R Reg...

In this paper, we demonstrate that there is more to consumer experience than just broadband access speed. We identify and describe a complex and dynamic set of interactions that occur between different factors that collectively determine consumer experience. We suggest that the relationship between broadband speed and consumer experience follows an...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine in a fully up-to-date manner the position in respect of the licensing and launch of long-term evolution (LTE) (4G) in a region that attracts relatively little attention in academic work and the media. The purpose is also to examine the role of incumbency and to assess to what extent the licensing of...

Purpose Over the past decade or so, successive Luxembourgish governments have sought to develop the country’s information and communication technologies (ICT) sector. In this paper, the authors will aim to examine how Luxembourg’s relative position in the “Networked Readiness Index” (NRI), a key international benchmarking exercise published by the...

The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has undoubtedly contributed to the spread and adoption of mobile telephony across Africa but evidence also points to the fact that coverage gaps persist in some locations - mainly rural and remote areas - which are either unserved or underserved. In order to address this problem, governments acros...

In network industries a large installed customer base is considered a key strategic asset that leads to a sustainable competitive advantage. This paper argues that market leaders should be able to demonstrate relative performance advantages vis-à-vis their competitors. Furthermore, we examine the moderating role of technological progress as a signi...

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to assess whether the dysfunctional structure of the Indian mobile communications sector has been improved by a large number of spectrum auctions during the period 2010-2016. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a case study of developments in the Indian mobile communications sector primarily during t...

The rising elderly demographic in the UK represents a significant challenge in terms of planning for the efficient use of increasingly expensive and constrained health and care resources. Digital technology-enabled assistive living health and care (Telehealthcare) services could potentially serve to address the problem. Review of academic and pract...

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of the international spectrum management regime on the introduction of flexibility in the national allocation of radiocommunication services. This is achieved through focusing on the main elements of the international regime. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative inductive methodology is adopt...

Across Europe, policymakers and market forces are striving to deploy next generation access (NGA) networks and ensure ubiquitous access to superfast broadband services. Due to scale economies and sunk costs, the roll-out of NGA is expected to be profitable only for large-scale providers and in densely populated areas. Nonetheless, alternative provi...

For over a decade BT has been investing significant sums to shift its focus away from the provision of voice telephony towards the Internet. This shift is epitomised by the widespread available of broadband and the company’s purchase of the rights to broadcast English Premier League football games. This paper argues that its dominance in the voice...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the ways in which mobile operators in the USA that previously presented themselves as providers of essentially a single service have had to adapt to the requirements of a multi-play world that includes mobile and fixed-wire voice, broadband internet and Pay-TV. Design/methodology/approach The approac...

p class="AJTDEAbstractbody">Following WRC-12, discussions have emerged with regard to the frequency arrangements in the 700 MHz band, out of band emissions (OOBE) of the mobile terminals below 694 MHz considering the allocation of the 694-790 MHz band to the mobile service. These discussions have shown that there is a tendency to partially harmonis...

Following WRC-12, discussions have emerged with regard to the frequency arrangements in the 700 MHz band, out of band emissions (OOBE) of the mobile terminals below 694 MHz considering the allocation of the 694-790 MHz band to the mobile service. These discussions have shown that there is a tendency to partially harmonise with the APT plan and to a...

Purpose In light of the recent European Commission decisions that clearly favour the maintenance of a four-network structure in European mobile markets, the purpose is to provide an empirical examination of the case for and against such a structure. Design/methodology/approach A table of concentration ratios in 35 sample European markets is constr...

There are two other significant matters to discuss. In the first place, Madden et al. state on p. 279 that “only ‘contested’ (by incumbents and potential entrants) assignments are modelled”. By this they mean that any licences reserved exclusively for new entrants are not counted. As 52 assignments are listed in Table II but only 49 are modelled, t...

Purpose This paper aims to examine the extent to which the largest international mobile operators are restructuring their network assets to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Design/methodology/approach A number of original databases have been constructed that identify the relevant operators, both current and over an eight-year period, where...

Purpose – This paper aims to demonstrate how consolidation within Europe’s mobile telecommunication markets requires willing buyers and sellers. Design/methodology/approach – After highlighting the resurgence in merger and acquisition (M & A) activity in mobile telecommunications, the paper draws on a variety of secondary sources to analyse the st...

It is widely argued that broadband is beneficial. Higher rates of broadband penetration and adoption are associated with enhanced economic growth, while for individuals accessing the Internet through a broadband connection opens up a range of opportunities to them. However, to enjoy these opportunities users need access to both an Internet connecti...

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the number of European companies among the world’s largest telecommunication, media and technology (TMT) companies. Through this, industry trends will be discerned and light shed on whether European companies are losing out to their rivals based in the USA and Asia in relation to the new highly technological ec...

One of the first practical implementations of flexible radio spectrum property rights was initiated in Europe in 2005 under the name ‘Wireless Access Policy for Electronic Communication Services (WAPECS)’. WAPECS aimed to introduce more flexibility into the European spectrum management framework by allowing technology and service neutrality. Intern...

The Luxembourgish telecommunications market, not too dissimilar to many other advanced industrial countries around the world, is undergoing a process of market liberalisation. However, there are some particular features of Luxembourg’s ‘informed follower’ mode of market liberalisation, which are sociospatially distinct and therefore warrant investi...

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate whether new entry via mobile licensing in Europe has had any longer-term consequences for competition. Design/methodology/approach – A database is presented covering certain recent periods and the issue of licences for the provision of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services. Findings – It would appear that new e...

The Internet plays an increasingly central role in the lives of individuals. It enables individuals to engage in social, economic, leisure and entertainment activities including wider access to information. Due to extensive societal use of the Internet, those without access are clearly disadvantaged. They will lack the necessary information to make...

In many countries, continued austerity is forcing governments to take a tougher attitude towards tax avoidance. Through the example of Vodafone, a leading player in the global mobile telecommunications industry, this paper explores the relationship between industry participants and the amount of tax that they pay. The case study highlights how mult...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the European countries in Region 1 of the Radio Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R). More specifically, the focus is on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 meeting to explore whether European influence is in decline. Design/methodology/approach – T...