L I R N E . N E T

William Melody and Amy Mahan will guest edit a special issue of info - the journal of policy, regulation and strategy for telecommunications, information and media on Network Development: Wireless Applications for the Next Billion New Users. This special issue focused on wireless applications for the next billion users will examine priority issues relating to the extension of ICT infrastructure to the world’s unconnected poor, with particular reference to the design of innovative strategies for network development. The guest editors welcome the submission of draft material or work in progress based on current or recently completed research for possible publication in this special issue.

Deadline for submission: Monday, 4 August 2008.

(more…)

LIRNE.NET researchers from around the world will be participating in the the International Telecommunications Society 17th Biennial Conference, Montreal, Canada (24-27 June). If you are planning to attend ITS, we invite you to come to meet researchers from LIRNEasia, Research ICT Africa (RIA!), the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI), from the European LIRNE centres, LIRNE.NET and Comunica. See next page for ITS sessions.

(more…)

[11 May 2008] Research ICT Africa! (RIA!) a network consisting of researchers across 18 countries will host a roundtable discussion with African policy makers and regulators on the results of a series of research projects known as Towards an African e-Index. The project seeks to provide the data and analysis necessary to move the continent towards evidence based policy formulation in this sector. The event will consist of a half an hour presentation on the findings of a 2007 supply side study of telecommunications sector performance across 16 African countries and a perception survey of the telecommunications regulatory environment, together with the interim findings of the 2008 nationally representative demand side survey of household and individual access and usage. There will then be opportunity for discussion of the policy and regulatory implications of the findings.

The roundtable discussion will take place on Sunday, 11 May, 11h30, at the Hilton Hotel 1113 Corniche El Nil, Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, contact RIA! Network Coordinator, Beki Nkala: Beki.Nkala [at] wits.ac.za

Click here to go to the RIA! website.

(more…)

infoDev’s ICT Regulation Toolkit, the most complete online repository of its kind, has completed all seven modules originally designated to cover the range of relevant themes. The final piece, Universal Access, is now available in beta version, with the finalised content being made available during the month of April. Self-described as “a live resource for policy-makers, regulators, the telecom industry, and consumers. It provides a global overview of how telecom policy is best implemented with practical materials highlighting experience and results.” The toolkit is kept up-to-date with new links to resources being added on a regular basis.

Module 1: Regulating the Telecommunications Sector: Overview
Module 2: Competition and Price Regulation
Module 3: Authorization of Telecommunications Services
Module 4: Universal Access (beta)
Module 5: Radio Spectrum Management
Module 6: Legal and Institutional Framework
Module 7: New Technologies and Impact on Regulation

(more…)

LIRNEasia’s report on CPRsouth2: Empowering rural communities through ICT policy and research is available for download from the CPRsouth website. The conference was held at IIT-Madras, Chennai, India from December 14-18, 2007. The collection of conference papers and presentations is also available; as are papers and presentations from the first CPRsouth conference and photos from both events.

Click here to download the report from the CPRsouth website.
Click here to go to the CPRsouth website. (more…)