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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1997

Ewan Sutherland

Despite the recent opening of new buildings for the British Library in London and for the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the change in mindset for librarians is almost complete…

Abstract

Despite the recent opening of new buildings for the British Library in London and for the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the change in mindset for librarians is almost complete, from just‐in‐case holdings to just‐in‐time delivery. Done well, the customer notices only an improvement in the service, though older customers may not find it comfortable to browse the virtual shelves, even if doing so from their desk or from home. This philosophy deserves to be applied in other areas: my own suggestion is to the postgraduate training of librarians and information scientists.

Details

Online and CD-Rom Review, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1353-2642

Article
Publication date: 11 January 2016

Ewan Sutherland

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of case studies in telecommunications policy research (TPR) and to compare and contrast usage with management, management…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of case studies in telecommunications policy research (TPR) and to compare and contrast usage with management, management information systems (MIS) and policy analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducts a comparative analysis that examines the methodologies used to design and select case studies and the various theories used in their analysis.

Findings

The most sophisticated use of case studies is in management information systems (MIS), distinguishing critical realism, interpretivism and positivism to build theories. In policy analysis and TPR, theories are used to explain case studies, which are chosen as interesting sets of phenomena, rather than as means to extend, falsify or verify theories.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers in telecommunications policy should consider the approaches taken in MIS to determine whether they might improve their rigor. There is also scope for meta-analyses of the existing pool of case studies.

Originality/value

This appears to be the first article examining the use of case studies in TPR.

Details

INFO, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 May 2016

Ewan Sutherland

This paper aims to review the licensing in India, including the development of universal licences and of the now infamous 2G spectrum scam.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review the licensing in India, including the development of universal licences and of the now infamous 2G spectrum scam.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a case study drawing on a side range of official documents, including inquiry reports, policies, licences and court judgements.

Findings

Liberalisation of the sector introduced opportunities for lobbying and corruption that lead to very unusual market structures, with many operators and too little spectrum.

Research limitations/implications

Interviews with the principals were impossible.

Practical implications

It is now necessary for the government to adopt good governance processes, especially in respect of 4G and th inevitable consolidation of operators in a fair and equitable manner.

Social implications

The governance systems are incapable of controlling the corruption in the telecommunications sector and require substantial redesign.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to relate corporate political activity and corruption to outcomes in the telecommunications sector in India.

Details

info, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 May 2018

Ewan Sutherland

This paper aims to examine issues of bribery, cronyism and nepotism in one of the most corrupt countries in Africa.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine issues of bribery, cronyism and nepotism in one of the most corrupt countries in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a single-country case study, drawing on material dating from the mid-1970s, including court cases.

Findings

The corruption is pervasive and systemic, showing severe problems with governance in general, in the sector and against corruption. Nonetheless, two operators, one South African and one Nigerian, have delivered extensive access to mobile networks.

Practical implications

The system of governance requires significant structural reforms, if the burden of corruption is to be reduced.

Originality/value

This paper sheds new and explicit light on the complex history of telecommunications in Nigeria. It adds to the small base of material on corruption in the telecommunications sector. It identifies issues that could usefully be taken up by institutions in Nigeria.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 20 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2017

Ewan Sutherland

This paper aims to examine the aspiration to world-class broadband in a number of countries.

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.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 January 2017

Ewan Sutherland

This paper aims to analyse the implication of the exit of the UK from the European Union (a.k.a. Brexit).

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the implication of the exit of the UK from the European Union (a.k.a. Brexit).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the options for the UK and the freedom this creates for the government to design its system of governance for the telecommunications and related economic sectors.

Findings

Brexit, other than the Norway Option or membership of the European Economic Area, allows the UK Government considerable freedom to reshape its system of governance for telecommunications. The strongest influence in such a redesign would be vested commercial interests, with the risk of subsequent underperformance and insufficient rigour.

Research limitations/implications

Events have moved relatively quickly, yet the outcome of the negotiations remains difficult to predict, beyond broad scenarios.

Social implications

There will be a need for greater involvement of consumers and business users in the process of recasting the regulatory governance system if it is not to be for the benefit of vested interests.

Originality/value

This is the first substantive analysis of Brexit for the telecommunications sector.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2016

Ewan Sutherland

The paper aims to examine the reporting of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the telecommunications sector and to consider how the obligations and regulations imposed on…

1903

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the reporting of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the telecommunications sector and to consider how the obligations and regulations imposed on operators affect what is considered as CSR compared to other sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a review of the academic literature on CSR, relating this to developments in the regulatory state and the adoption by governments and intergovernmental bodies of CSR instruments. Also, the paper conducts an analysis of coltan, greenhouse gas emissions and privacy as short case studies where CSR issues and regulations meet.

Findings

Many activities that in other sectors would be considered CSR are required by licence or legislation, together with much more detailed scrutiny and reporting.

Originality/value

The paper provides a review of existing literature on CSR in telecommunications, related to theories about CSR and the regulatory state.

Article
Publication date: 24 October 2019

Ewan Sutherland

The purpose of this paper is to review the prosecution by US authorities of Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corporation for its violation of sanctions against the sale…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the prosecution by US authorities of Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corporation for its violation of sanctions against the sale of systems to Iran and North Korea; the violation of the plea agreement; and, following presidential intervention, the imposition of a further fine and restructuring of its management.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of the materials used in court proceedings and speeches by officials in the case against ZTE

Findings

The US president intervened in a quasi-judicial matter in which a foreign firm had violated US sanctions that he had supported to lessen the penalties it faced. The firm had also violated its plea agreement. This personal intervention weakened enforcement of US sanctions on human rights and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). However, it revealed the excessive reliance of Chinese manufacturers on US-domiciled suppliers of semiconductors and software.

Research limitations/implications

Neither was access to Chinese documents possible nor would it have been practicable to interview managers at ZTE.

Practical implications

Enforcement of US sanctions on the sale of telecommunications equipment have now been moved from strict enforcement on matters of human rights and WMD into political, trade and even personal negotiations with the US president.

Originality/value

A first analysis of a telecommunications sanctions case.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 21 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 November 2020

Ewan Sutherland

This paper aims to analyse the promises of the various political party in the 2019 general election in the United Kingdom (UK) concerning the provision of broadband, especially in…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the promises of the various political party in the 2019 general election in the United Kingdom (UK) concerning the provision of broadband, especially in remote and rural areas.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an analysis of the party manifestos, some interviews and speeches involving party leaders. It identified the various commitments, any costs for those and the reasoning given.

Findings

The UK lags badly on fibre to the premises, both homes and offices. Without analysing the reasons, the two dominant parties proposed to borrow large amounts of money to fund fibre deployment, the Conservative Party without explaining how it would be disbursed. The Labour Party produced a confused proposal to nationalise BT Openreach and probably other operators, without explaining how this transition would work. Nor did they explain why the service was to be free to users.

Practical implications

The UK political parties need to improve their understanding of broadband and digital policies, including means to simplify the governance of markets.

Originality/value

This is the first analysis of the broadband commitments of a UK general election and one of the very few analyses of political offers in an election.

Article
Publication date: 4 March 2014

Ewan Sutherland

The purpose of this paper is to review the extent and the manner in which internet governance systems could and do engage with the problems of potential and actual corruption.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the extent and the manner in which internet governance systems could and do engage with the problems of potential and actual corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of internet multistakeholder systems and their compatibility with global best practice in countering corruption.

Findings

The multistakeholder systems contain systemic weaknesses, exposing them to risks of corruption and capture that would be very difficult to identify and eradicate.

Practical implications

A number of opportunities are identified to improve resilience of internet multistakeholder systems against the dangers of capture and corruption.

Originality/value

There is no research published on this topic.

Details

Info, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

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