Preface
Final report
Table of Contents
List of Tables, Figures and Boxes
     Table 1: Technologies used for rural connections
     Table 2: Selection of wired and wireless technologies
     Table 3: Summary of ITU-T FTTx wireline broadband standards
     Table 4: Sources of USF
     Table 1A: Different aspects to the Urban/Rural Digital Divide
     Table 2A: Bandwidth requirements for sample apps
     Table 3A: Bandwidth requirements for different types of Skype calling
     Table 4A: Supply-side measures to promote provision of broadband networks and services
     Table 5A: Demand-side measures
     Figure 1: Backhaul technologies used for connecting rural and remote areas
     Figure 2: Access technologies used for connecting rural and remote areas
     Figure 3: Strategic recommendations to implement national telehealth service for rural areas
     Figure 4: Strategies adopted to achieve the targets for rural and remote areas
     Figure 5: Policies for infrastructure sharing, especially for the rural and remote areas
     Figure 1A: Shifting focus on different aspects of the digital divide with the internet adoption curve
     Figure 2A: Drivers and determinants of broadband take-up
     Figure 3A: Commercial viability of broadband coverage
     Figure 4A: Broadband across Latvia, 2015
     Figure 5A: Household broadband access in Europe, 2015
     Figure 6A: Internet penetration in the United States, by County, 2013
     Figure 7A: Status of backbone connectivity, 2013
     Figure 8A: Evolution in technical factors for video
     Figure 9A: The concept of app coverage
1	CHAPTER 1 – Introduction
2	CHAPTER 2 – Background
     2.1	Summary of the previous study cycles on this Question
     2.2	World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
     2.3	Broadband Commission
     2.4	ITU strategic plan
     2.5	WTDC 2014 output
     2.6	Importance of study on rural and remote areas
3	CHAPTER 3 – Challenges for the development of telecommunications/ICTs in rural and remote areas
     3.1	Challenges discussed in the previous study cycles on this Question
     3.2	Challenges discussed in the contributions in this study period
     3.3	Challenges in the questionnaire replies for the global survey
     3.4	Methods to overcome the challenges
4	CHAPTER 4 – Technologies for connecting rural and remote areas
     4.1	Telecommunications for rural and remote areas
     4.2	Network configurations patterns
     4.3	Backhaul technologies
          4.3.1	General survey result
          4.3.2	Optical networks
          4.3.3	Microwave link
          4.3.4	Satellite link
     4.4	Access technologies
          4.4.1	General survey result
          4.4.2	Fibre to premises
          4.4.3	xDSL (twisted pair cable to premises)
          4.4.4	CATV (cable to premises)
          4.4.5	Mobile network (3G/4G)
          4.4.6	Wi-Fi
          4.4.7	Satellite broadband access
     4.5	Selection of technologies
     4.6	Work of ITU-T and ITU-R for telecommunications/ICTs in rural and remote areas
5	CHAPTER 5 – Services and applications adapted to the needs of users in rural and remote areas
     5.1	Telephone (fixed and mobile)
     5.2	Internet/ Broadband access (Services and applications adapted to the needs of users in rural and remote areas)
     5.3	e-Applications and services
          5.3.1	e-Finance/e-Commerce
          5.3.2	eHhealth
          5.3.3	e-Agriculture
          5.3.4	e-Government
     5.4	Proposals
6	CHAPTER 6 – ICT in education in rural areas
     6.1	Broadband technologies
     6.2	Challenges
     6.3	Affordability and funding
     6.4	Global survey for Question 5/1
     6.5	Proposals
7	CHAPTER 7 – Public policies, regulatory measures, funding for development, maintenance and operation of telecommunications/ICTs in rural and remote areas
     7.1	Situation of rural and remote areas in developing countries
     7.2	Broadband policy and Broadband plan
     7.3	Universal Service Fund (USF)
     7.4	Frequency assignment and license conditions
     7.5	Multi-stakeholder partnership
     7.6	Support for infrastructure
     7.7	Support for applications and content
     7.8	Capacity building
     7.9	Importance of policy, regulation and funding
8	CHAPTER 8 – Business models and incentives of the operators
     8.1	Introduction
     8.2	Business models
     8.3	Incentives of the operators
9	CHAPTER 9 – Conclusions and Guidelines
Acknowledgement
Abbreviations and acronyms
Annexes
Annex 1: All documents received for Question 5/1
Annex 2.1: Analysis of questionnaire replies to the global survey
Annex 2.2: Analysis of questionnaire replies to the global survey – Presentation
Annex 3.1: Measuring the Urban-Rural Digital Divide (URDD)
Annex 3.2: Measuring the Urban-Rural Digital Divide (URDD) – Presentation
Annex 4: Country examples of ICT in education in rural areas