On Fri, 18 Feb 2005, Jonathan Rutherford wrote:
Some of the issues (realities?) of doing research on the geography of
internet/telecoms are discussed in a new paper by Tony Grubesic and Alan
Murray, just out in Telecommunications Policy
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2004.08.001
Geographies of imperfection in telecommunication analysis
Tony H. Grubesica, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The
Corresponding Author and Alan T. Murrayb
aDepartment of Geography, University of Cincinnati, 400B Braunstein Hall,
Cincinnati, OH 45213, USA
bDepartment of Geography, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
43210-1361, USA
Available online 11 November 2004.
Abstract
Rapid increases in computing power and data storage capacity, along with
the continued evolution of commercial geographic information systems
(GIS), have significantly widened the production and consumption of
spatial data. Considering the varying disciplines (sociology, economics,
public policy, city and regional planning, regional science, geography,
etc.) investigating digital economies, the Internet, and
telecommunications, it is no surprise that spatial data related to such
topics is in high demand. Due to the technological complexities of
telecommunication systems, however, analysts need to be aware of potential
impacts associated with the use of imperfect spatial information when
evaluating telecommunication infrastructure, particularly in the context
of social, political, economic and environmental issues. More importantly,
the implications of imperfect information on telecommunication policy
development must be considered. The purpose of this paper is to explore
how data imperfection is resident in a range of telecommunication
analyses. A framework is presented for identifying and addressing spatial
analysis sensitivities in the use of imperfect information. In addition, a
case study examining imperfect information associated with digital
subscriber line (xDSL) deployment in Columbus, Ohio is provided. Results
suggest a significant difference in the proposed vs. actual availability
of xDSL services in the study area.
Keywords: Telecommunication; Uncertainty; GIS; Policy
> Thanks to Martin for sticking up for poorly funded academic researchers!
>
> The analysis was originally carried out in Spring 2003 for the ESPON
> telecoms project, at which stage data from Q3 2001 seemed quite reasonable
> (although as we do point out in the paper, many provider networks present in
> the data had already changed), and was the best we could find in any case.
> Obviously two years down the line, things have moved on. But I think one of
> our main points in the paper remains relevant - the continuing importance of
> national territories as structuring elements in European network development
> (which is a crucial difference to US backbone deployments). Which fits with
> Philippe's comment about the role of 'serious national backbones'...
>
> If anybody has more up-to-date concrete information (or data) about recent
> network developments in Europe, we'll be glad to hear about it.
>
> Internet Exchange Points were briefly discussed (again due to limited data)
> in chapter 5 of our second interim report for ESPON.
>
> Regards,
> Jon
>
> Jonathan Rutherford,
> Postdoctorant / Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
> Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés (LATTS),
> Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC),
> 6-8 avenue Blaise Pascal,
> F-77455 Marne-la-Vallée cedex 2,
> France.
> Tél: +33 (0)1.64.15.38.30
> Mobile: +44(0)7971 023721
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> Web: http://latts.cnrs.fr/
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