Ict, e-business and Small and Medium Enterprises

Network infrastructure issues: access and interoperability 

The availability of a wide range of Internet connections and other communication services, 

preferably at competitive prices, is very important in that it allows small businesses to choose different and 

appropriate services according to their specific needs and (initial) expectations from on-line activities.  

Fixed telecommunication networks are likely to continue to serve as the primary means of 

Internet access for many SMEs because of their relatively lower cost. The basic telecommunication 

infrastructure is in place in many OECD countries, although the development of reliable fixed 

communication networks is an important policy area for e-commerce readiness, especially in the emerging 

economies (Box 4). Most OECD countries have a similar number of fixed telecommunication access lines, 

i.e. traditional copper lines and ISDN lines, per 100 inhabitants (OECD, 2003b). The telecommunications 

infrastructure is also growing rapidly in non–OECD countries, but there are very wide differences among 

non-countries as shown in Figure 9, with for example Singapore at the level of OECD countries and India 

at a much lower level in general despite areas of very advanced use of telecommunications to support its 

very rapidly growing and globally competitive  IT and ICT-enabled services industry. 

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