Financing rural telecoms in the developing world

摘要

Historically it has been common for operators of GSM-based payphones or phone shops to bring services to densely populated but poorly connected areas by a programme of cross-subsidy. Examples include Vodacom South Africa which views "subsidising rural communications is a contribution to social responsibility" and charges 60 cents a minute in previously under-serviced areas, almost half the normal rate, and Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) offering calls at 45 cents a minute to the rural population and to disadvantaged groups in the townships, against the 1.45 rands per minute for normal calls.