World-class broadband
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the aspiration to world-class broadband in a number of countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This study includes a review of the various approaches taken by countries, consultants and intergovernmental organisations.
Findings
The term “world class” is used relatively vaguely, without any significant link to long-term improvements in national performance, rather to an aspiration to being close to the leaders.
Research limitations/implications
The use of benchmarking in lobbying needs further study, as does the quality of lobbying.
Practical implications
Governments need to make explicit their policy aims in addition to any world-class headline and need to aim for design improvement in their governance systems.
Originality/value
This is the first review of benchmarking of broadband at the national level.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was partly inspired by the Scottish Government policy objective and by a submission to the Scottish Parliament. A presentation on this topic was made to the Newcastle Business School, for which opportunity the author would like to thank Jason Whalley.
Citation
Sutherland, E. (2017), "World-class broadband", Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 189-209. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-12-2016-0055
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited