Imposing Universal Service Obligation On A Telecom Operator In A Developing Country: Challenges

Article by Judedavid Ogochukwu Mbamalu Esq*

INTRODUCTION

"A critical element of most national telecom policy objectives is advancing universal service. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) definition considers universal service provision as purely for the purpose of making available telecommunication services of specified quality, and in light of the specific national conditions, at an affordable price to that minority of potential users who do not have the service and for whom not having access to the service would constitute a social or economic disadvantage. Key issues that regulators and policy makers face with regard to universal service provision are mechanisms for funding, estimation of funding mechanism for deployment and involvement of private sector and monitoring targets" ¹.