Cross-Border Satellites: To Implement or not to Implement

        Information Communication Technology (ICT) modernity in developing countries has been a slow process due to government regulations, for example, China does not allow the use of satellites within its country.  Implementing satellite dishes in developing countries for the purpose of navigation, communication, or remote- sensing would provide significant benefits and meet technological needs of developing nations.  However, this may not be an easy task for manufacturers of satellite dishes, who are willing to meet the needs, by supplying the satellite dish product, for what lies in front of them, are roadblocks, one of the main blocks is government shifts in ownership, as well as insufficient funds, infrastructure, equipment, knowledge, and education.  Moreover, ICTs that will allow for transaction costs to be lowered, could offer developing countries a way to avoid high financing rates and concentrated fixed assets, hence an open passage to an economy that is knowledge-based, consequently ushering in productivity accrual and economic growth.  

         In addition, lack of ICT infrastructure plays a pivotal role in ICT adoption in developing countries because low-income nations do not have the proper networks to support ICT adoption.  Furthermore, lack of infrastructure may lead to poor services, putting adoption at a standstill, leading to a crippling of ICT demand, as well as leading to a waterfall effect, such as lack of infrastructure leading to a deficit of consumer and businesses expertise, which in turn, leads to a lack of support for the ICT industry.  Another hurdle that most developing countries need to overcome to set up ICT adoption is regulations.  Creating a privatized monopoly and a politically independent regulatory regime that does not stall competition, this is the foundation for all ICT policies, such as competitive market regulation, universal service programs, and ICT cluster program.  If any of these reforms are impeded then the adoption of ICT is stalled severely. 

           Therefore, the advice given to the manufacturer of satellite dishes, that wants to penetrate the market of developing countries, is to wait until regulations and policies change within those countries, as well as infrastructure improvements.  The road toward ICT adoption in developing countries is treacherous, as well as, having a long way to go to coalesce, probably a few decades, especially since telecommunication integration began only in the 1970s.