Diversifying Participation in the Different Elements of Network Development: Replicating the Grameen Bangladesh Model?

The Bangladesh case study follows from the World Dialogue on Regulation’s (WDR) theme for 2004/2005 – Diversifying Participation in the Different Elements of Network Development – and was done in parallel to other case studies in India, Indonesia and Nepal. The broad conceptual framework for this piece of research relates to particular gaps in the literature on the range of possible sources of investment for network development, the opportunities that they provide and the barriers that must be overcome to realize these opportunities. The key areas that the Bangladesh study explored are: The conditions and possibilities for replicating the Grameen Telecom approach of extending access to telephone services through microfinance mechanisms. The role played by Grameen’s use of fibre optic cables laid along the railway lines in network acces.