scholarly journals Transitioning to Society 5.0 in Africa: Tools to Support ICT Infrastructure Sharing

Data ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Kennedy Nomamidobo Amadasun ◽  
Michael Short ◽  
Rajesh Shankar-Priya ◽  
Tracey Crosbie
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Network Service

Society 5.0 represents an opportunity to transform the economy and create a digital society with the goal of long-term sustainable development and economic growth. There is a growing importance of boosting ICT as an effective and efficient means of achieving this transformation, and Target 9c of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is to ‘Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries’. Mobile telecommunication systems have become the most effective and convenient means of communicating in the world, and as such, they are revolutionizing business operations. Nigeria is the fastest growing telecommunication market in Africa, with approximately 298 million subscribers accommodated by over 53,000 base transceiver stations (BTSs) which are largely concentrated in urban areas. As a result of increasing subscribers, all mobile network service providers in Nigeria are building new BTSs, often without considering existing infrastructure. This has led to a proliferation of masts, defacing the environment and causing unnecessary environmental pollution as BTSs are largely powered by diesel generators. It is therefore becoming paramount for the telecommunication regulatory body in Nigeria to enforce principles of infrastructure sharing and the colocation of sites for all mobile network service provider BTSs to improve network availability, reliability, scalability, customer satisfaction and sustainability. This paper argues, through the development of ICT tools and their application to a case study, that infrastructure sharing and colocation of sites is not only feasible if supported correctly but also offers the potential to reduce operational and capital expenditure, reduce the number of BTSs required for the rapidly growing mobile telecoms industry in Nigeria and in doing so reduce environmental pollution.

Cyberspace at the Grassroots: E-Governance and Citizen/Stakeholder Perceptions at the Local Level in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
pp. 245513332110340
Author(s):  
Habib Zafarullah ◽  
Jannatul Ferdous
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Citizen Perceptions

Bangladesh has experimented with e-governance since the early 2000s and currently ranks among the top 10 least developed countries. The deployment of e-governance at the local level has provided benefits to the rural people, with local councils increasingly using information and communications technology (ICT) to expand community-based delivery systems and augment rural service delivery. One-stop cyber centres provide a range of services that are user-friendly, cost-effective and less time-consuming. This study focuses on five sub-districts to inquire about the range of services provided by the e-service centres there. It has recorded citizen perceptions and the level of their satisfaction and the observations of service providers about the e-service mechanism. It also identifies key challenges in service delivery. Citizen satisfaction was measured using 12 indicators, while the service provider observations focused on social issues, governance, resource and technical issues. The study found several issues requiring attention to consolidate the e-governance system in the country.

Prioritizing the influencing factors of utaut-2 model toward mobile network service providers

2021 ◽  
pp. 178359172110553
Author(s):  
Ishani Patharia ◽  
Anjana Pandey ◽  
Sanjay Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Communication Networks ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Use Of Technology

Technological developments have a major impact on user behavior. The rapidly evolving communication system and technology have provided numerous choices for people. The ever-shifting changes in the generation of communication networks have posed challenges for mobile network service providers to attract and retain customers. This study aims to prioritize the determinants of the adoption of mobile network service providers using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT-2). In this study, data were collected from 660 mobile phone users in Haryana, India. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (F-AHP) was applied to arrange the priority or rank the factors based on the significance of the factors in explaining the adoption of mobile network service providers. Results of the study reveal that efforts expectancy is the highest-ranked and prioritized factor for the adoption of mobile network service providers followed by performance expectancy and facilitating conditions. However, social influence emerged as the least important factor. The present study provides theoretical implications for future researchers by synthesizing and prioritizing the important factors affecting technology acceptance. The practical implications offer a clearer insight to marketers for developing focused pragmatic strategies to retain customer loyalty. The study has considered only UTAUT-2 model constructs and used the F-AHP technique. Other factors may be considered in future studies. Other priority analysis techniques can also be used such as ISM and MICMAC analysis for further study. The research has been conducted in Haryana, India, and therefore, it needs to be tested in other areas/countries for generalizability. JEL Classification: O1, O2, O4

Effect of population density and network availability on deployment of broadband PPDR mobile network service

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Peltola ◽  
Heikki Hämmäinen
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Service Availability ◽  
Loop Model ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Commercial Network ◽  
Socioeconomic Benefits

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to define the best deployment alternatives for a public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) mobile network service – the implementation alternatives being either a dedicated network, a commercial network or a hybrid of the two network types. The selection criteria are based on the social benefits that the PPDR mobile service is expected to bring to society. The critical parameters are population density and service availability, which both directly relate to the socioeconomic benefits achieved by providing broadband (BB) mobile services in various demographic areas. Design/methodology/approach A causal loop model has been developed to define the socioeconomic benefits of the PPDR network, the parameters being population density, service availability, socioeconomic value of the service and the costs of the network. The network solution alternatives are studied using the Finnish PPDR network as a reference – analysing various areas of the country with differing population densities from remote, rural and more densely populated suburban and urban areas. Findings Socioeconomic value is a common measure for assessing the value of governmental investments; population density has a strong impact on the optimum deployment alternatives as the socioeconomic value is directly proportional to this variable. The flat nationwide fee of the mobile users means that the users are subsidised in sparsely populated areas – and overcharged in densely populated areas. This is the main reason why the commercial network seems to be most feasible in rural areas, whereas the dedicated network works best in urban areas. Based on the case study, the commercial network is most preferable up to the point when the population density reaches 50-125 persons/km2. After that point, the dedicated network becomes more appropriate. Proposals are being made to improve the availability of the commercial networks enabling them to serve as a PPDR network: ensuring priority functionality and a protected power supply; allowing PPDR subscribers the exclusive use of one of the 700 MHz spectrum bands in restricted, critical areas; and extending use of the existing narrowband PPDR network in areas where communication availability is crucial. Originality/value On the one hand, the financing of BB PPDR mobile networks is an unresolved issue in many countries. On the other hand, the ability of commercial BB networks to provide better quality of service is improving, making viable the alternative to subscribe for radio service from a commercial operator. Therefore, the feasibility study on how to provide an optimum mobile BB service for PPDR organisations is of real value at this time.

scholarly journals Service Quality and Consumer Choice of Their Preferred Telecommunications Service Provider in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Afako Jephthah Kwame ◽  
Afako Jeremiah Kwaku ◽  
Tian Hongyun
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Provider ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Customer Choice ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Network Service Provider ◽  
Quality Dimensions ◽  
Service Quality Dimensions

This study examines the effect of service quality on customer choice. Specifically, it investigated the relationship between service quality dimensions and customer choice, examining the effect of service quality dimensions on customer choice and the service quality dimension most preferred by customers. The quantitative research approach was used with a sample of 250 respondents using purposive and convenient sampling technique. Questionnaires were used to collect the data and analyzed using SPSS version 21. With regards to the correlation variables, it showed a strong positive relationship between service quality dimensions and customer choice of a mobile network service provider and the regression variables showed a significant effect between service quality and customer choice indicating that service quality is very important and influence customers’ choice in choosing a mobile network service provider. It was recommended that Mobile network service providers should continue to improve on the service quality dimensions (empathy, responsiveness, reliability assurance, and tangibility). Since customers look out for these dimensions when choosing a mobile network service provider.

scholarly journals Towards Sustainable Urban Development: the Ukrainian situation

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Patrizia Gazzola ◽  
Olena Dymchenko ◽  
Volodymyr Sribnyi ◽  
Olena Panova
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Sustainable Societies ◽  
External Forces

Abstract The continuing process of urbanization sets up urgent issues of environmental degradation resulting in disrupting opportunities to enhance quality of life of the population. In Ukraine, the anthropogenic and human impacts on the environment are several times higher than in developed countries. Thus, life expectancy in Ukraine is on average around 68 years (e.g. in Italy – 82, Sweden - 80, Poland - 74) which is largely due to the environmental pollution which is the result of production activities of mining, metallurgy, chemical industries, fuel and energy complex. Therefore, there is a strong need in the Ukrainian society to address the consequences of powerful external forces as environmental pollution and climate change, and internal forces as socioeconomic development. These forces play a role at all levels but are prevalent at urban levels. Cities are not isolated entities; they interact with their surroundings, economically, socio-politically and environmentally. Urban development toward sustainability has to consider the capacity of the entire ecosystem to support such development including the prevention and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts of the outside urban areas. Hence, cities are unique territories to implement green economy opportunities to ensure the development of sustainable societies. Exploring different dimensions of sustainability should be connected with the exploration of urban processes and developments on a global level. This connection shows how sustainability can be destroyed or ensured. Sustainability should be based on social cohesion in local urban areas and contribute to sustainable urban development.

scholarly journals Long-Term Relationship Building and Customer Switching Behaviour in the Mobile Telecommunication Industry in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebhote Oseremen
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Switching Behavior ◽  
Telecommunication Industry ◽  
Mobile Telecommunication ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Customer Switching ◽  
Telecommunication Operators

This paper examined long-term relationship building and customer switching behavior among mobile telecommunication operators in Nigeria. The population of this study includes all mobile telecommunication company and their subscribers in Edo State, Nigeria. The samples for this study were drawn from Mobile Network Service Providers and their subscribers. For service providers, three (3) out of the nine (9) mobile network operators were selected (Nigeria Communication Commission NCC, 2020). Morgan and Krejcie's (1970) sampling methods were implemented to choose a sample of 322 mobile telecom subscribers Godden (2004). The paper employed regression analysis to analyze and test the hypothesis formulated. The result showed that long-term relationship building (Two-way Communication, Customer retention Strategy, Customer Loyalty, and Relational Bond) had a positive statistically significant relationship with customer switching behavior among mobile telecommunication operators (Network service providers) at p>0.05. The research recommends among others that players of the mobile telecommunication Industry (mobile network service providers) should embrace the application of long-term relationship-building to achieve, sustain and retain customers' usage of their products, this will enable them to compete better with other players in the industry. Also, they should engage in relational bonding aimed at creating attachment with the customer leading to customer retention and subsequently profitability.

scholarly journals Secure Drone Network Edge Service Architecture Guaranteed by DAG-Based Blockchain for Flying Automation under 5G

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 6209
Author(s):  
Ying Gao ◽  
Yangliang Liu ◽  
Quansi Wen ◽  
Hongliang Lin ◽  
Yijian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Edge Computing ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Specific Service ◽  
Service Architecture ◽  
Service Environment

With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), the number of drones, as a consumer-level IoT device, is rapidly increasing. The existence of a large number of drones increases the risk of misoperation during manual control. Therefore, it has become an inevitable trend to realize drone flying automation. Drone flying automation mainly relies on massive drone applications and services as well as third-party service providers, which not only complicate the drone network service environment but also raise some security and privacy issues. To address these challenges, this article proposes an innovative architecture called Secure Drone Network Edge Service (SDNES), which integrates edge computing and blockchain into the drone network to provide real-time and reliable network services for drones. To design a feasible and rational SDNES architecture, we first consider the real-time performance and apply edge computing technology in it to provide low-latency edge services for drones under 5G mobile network. We use DAG-based blockchain to guarantee the security and reliability of the drone network service environment and effectively avoid malicious behaviors. In order to illustrate the feasibility of this architecture, we design and implement a specific service case named Drone Collision Avoidance Navigation Service based on SDNES. Finally, a simulation experiment for the specific service case and a series of other performance-related experiments were carried out to verify the feasibility and rationality of our proposed architecture. The experimental results demonstrate that SDNES is a promising architecture to assist and accelerate drone flying automation.

scholarly journals Corporate brand image and switching behavior: case of mobile telecommunications customers in Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shylet Chigwende ◽  
Krishna Govender
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Switching Behavior ◽  
Network Service ◽  
Corporate Brand ◽  
Brand Switching

Mobile telecommunication service providers in Zimbabwe are using a brand image to market their products and minimize brand switching, resulting from increased market competition. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 385 participants in Zimbabwe. The sample size was determined using Rao software sample size calculator to extract an acceptable sample from apopulation of 1,973,906 inhabitants. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire and were also tested for reliability and validity using SPSS version 20. It was ascertained that 70% of the respondents’ switched SIM cards, 20% never switched, and 10% were indifferent to the different providers. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that mobile network service providers’ brand image positively affects customer satisfaction, a positive relationship exists between mobile network service providers’ brand image and consumer brand switching behavior, customer satisfaction positively affects their loyalty. Corporate brand image indirectly affects customer loyalty through customer satisfaction. The researchers recommend marketers to consider the findings when designing strategies for marketing mobile network services. AcknowledgmentsThe authors of this paper greatly appreciate the support and cooperation they received from the Postal and Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and research participants during the survey.

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