مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد توزیع مکالمه راه دور: آنالیز عوامل تعیین کننده – الزویر 2018

This paper explores the diffusion of mobile telephone technology in Cameroon by identifying and analyzing the determinants of this diffusion. Studying the diffusion of mobile communications in African countries by integrating them into panels of developing countries is problematic. This approach is likely to mask the intrinsic differences as concerns the diffusion process. This survey shows, through the estimation of an S-shaped growth curve, that the Logistic model best describes the diffusion of mobile phone technology in Cameroon. Income, openness to competition and the use of SMS are key forces driving this diffusion. Forecasts indicate an increase of almost 70% in the demand by 2026 as far as mobile phone use in Cameroon is concerned. This implies not only an improvement in operators’ and State’s revenues, but also, the need to invest in infrastructures. Our recommendation therefore calls for a greater liberalization of the mobile phone market in Cameroon. In addition, given the complementary relationship between the core and the mobile networks, infrastructural investments are also needed in both sectors.

Introduction

The diffusion of mobile telephony in developing countries as a whole and Africa in particular enables many researchers to carry out studies on the issue from many perspectives. This work aims to analyze the determinants of the mobile telephony diffusion in Cameroon, focusing on other variables like income, the use of SMS and mobile payments. In this perspective, three major elements are retained: a presentation of the mobile phone market in Cameroon, an estimation of the demand in the coming years and a discussion on the main factors affecting the take up of mobile communications in this country. It is thus justified to be interested in this issue, given that since the early 1990s, mobile telephony has experienced an unprecedented development worldwide, and particularly in developing countries. Indeed, the regulation policy practiced by developing countries played a significant role in stimulating the demand. This regulation basically aimed at promoting competition by acting both on the increased number of operators as well as on the variety of services offered. In this regard and according to the 2012 report of the mobile phone observatory in sub-Saharan Africa, mobile phone connections number has increased by 44% per year since 2000, while the average for the same period stood at 34% and 10% in developing and developed countries respectively (GSMA, 2012). This trend is further confirmed by the GSMA report (2017) where West Africa is mentioned to have the fastest growing market in the world. This remarkable growth in the use of mobile phone made this device one of the key communication means in this continent. The gradual evolution of mobile phone technology is largely explained by the core network’s deficiency.