Publication: Private Telecom Projects : Private Activity Down 15 Percent in 2003
Date
2005-04
ISSN
Published
2005-04
Author(s)
Izaguirre, Ada Karina
Abstract
Drawing on the World Bank's private
participation in infrastructure project database, this note
reviews developments in the telecommunications sector in
2003. Data for the year show that investment in projects
with private participation was back to 1996 levels. Two
regions -the Middle East and North Africa and Europe and
Central Asia-saw private activity grow in 2003. And
developing country companies were the most active sponsors.
Private activity in telecommunications in low and
middle-income countries remained subdued in 2003. Investment
flows to projects with private participation declined for
the third consecutive year, amounting to US$28.5 billion.
Nevertheless, 22 new projects with fixed or mobile operators
reached financial closure in 16 developing countries. Most
of the decline in investment occurred in lower-middle-income
countries, where investment flows dropped from US$11.3
billion to US$8.8 billion. Low-income countries also
contributed to the slowdown, with investment flows falling
from US$6.8 billion to US$5.4 billion. Flows were
nevertheless strong, the fourth highest for this group in
1990-2003. Investment flows to upper-middle-income countries
grew by 9 percent to US$14.2 billion, yet were still close
to the level of 1996.
Citation
“Izaguirre, Ada Karina. 2005. Private Telecom Projects : Private Activity Down 15 Percent in 2003. Viewpoint: Public Policy for the Private Sector; Note No. 288. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/3a31893a-86c3-5739-a2ca-0a2ce09920cc License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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