Enabling the Universal Access of telecommunication services through the development of private WiMAX telecenters in rural areas enabled by Universal Access Funds

The quest to attain Universal Access and Service in the telecommunication sector is hampered mostly by the high cost of deploying telecom networks in rural areas and Non-commercial viable areas. This paper discusses how the use of WiMAX as an alternative technology, transmitted by small network operators in rural areas using telecenters as the WiMAX base stations can help in reducing the cost of deploying a telecom network as well as enable rural dwellers to afford the service by either using the telecentres of access the service remotely via Customer Premise Equipment. This is a conceptual paper based on an on-going research at CMI, Aalborg University Copenhagen on developing a Public Private Partnership framework for deploying telecommunication services in rural areas.