Overcoming the barriers of isolation: Strategies for small and isolated developing states

This paper examines access to ICTs, particularly mobile voice and broadband in isolated countries with small populations. The primary focus is on developing island states, with some additional analysis of conditions in developing landlocked states. Because of their isolation, people in these countries are highly dependent on telecommunications for contact with citizens overseas, finding markets for their products and competitive suppliers for necessary imports, and developing new employment opportunities to increase local GDP and reduce emigration and dependency on external aid. Yet this very isolation, coupled with their small size, makes them unattractive markets for ICT providers. In general, they lag in access to ICTs including broadband, and pay higher rates for access to mobile and broadband services where available. The paper analyzes access to voice (primarily mobile) and broadband services in these countries in terms of availability and price. It also analyzes the structure of the sector including privatization and degree of competition in mobile and broadband. It then identifies strategies that could be adopted to increase access.