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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 01/02
New World, New Realities: The Remaining Roles of Government in International Telecommunications
Rob Frieden
A Report of the Fifth Annual Aspen Institute Roundtable on International Telecommunications
2000
Abstract
Ten years ago, who would have guessed that consumers would one day use computers to buy groceries, download music, or make long distance telephone calls? Turn on the nightly news or glance at the financial pages of any newspaper, the message is everywhere: Internet companies are revolutionizing the way we do business, virtually overnight.
As information technology becomes more widespread and accessible, consumers increasingly demand greater access to enhanced information services that enable them to make decisions in real time. For example, consumers in developed countries subscribe to mobile services to increase their flexibility and mobility. Likewise, consumers in developing countries rely upon mobile service to increase communications in areas where access to traditional voice services has been lacking, poor, or unreliable.
The implications of the information revolution reverberate throughout society and the global economy at all levels. The impact of the information revolution on the telecommunications industry has been particularly stark.
