Infrastructure sharing could counter financial downturn, says report

GENEVA – The sharing of infrastructure could spur broadband growth by lowering the costs of network rollout, says a new report from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The report, called Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2008: Six Degrees of Sharing, details strategies designed to “optimize and maximize investment in broadband networks and ICT equipment and services,” and promote widespread, affordable broadband access. 2008 was marked by “unparalleled” numbers of voice and Internet consumers in both the developing and developed world, the report continues, which is the result of network growth and expansion. But network development could slow considerably as the global...