| In recent years, privatization has been a growing phenomenon in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is viewed as an instrument used by the public sector to reduce the role of the state in the economies while enhancing the scope of private ownership and participation of goods and services (Akram et al, 2011). Researchers have noted that the telecommunication industry is one of the sectors that have largely been privatized (Wallsten & Walcott, 2001; Amulya & Anand, 2012; and Akram et al, 2011). With regards to the emerging global information and communication age, efficient and effective telecommunication infrastructure is a necessary tool for an efficient transnational trade, financial services, manufacturing and other economic activities. As a result, governments of developing countries have been faced with the challenge of having to substitute outdated telecommunication systems with modern equipment. Most countries have introduced private sector management in their telecommunication service industry. A growing number of studies have attempted to evaluate the impact of a shift in the ownership structure on the efficiency of the telecommunications service sector (Wallsten, 2001; Sumbwanyambe, 2011; Williams et al, 2011). This study provides an analytical framework to examine how privatization of telecommunication affects its effectiveness. The effectiveness of the telecommunications service sector is likely impacted by factors other than ownership. These include the competitive structure of the market, the effectiveness of the regulatory framework, and the availability of other communications means. To improve on the telecommunication sector, policy makers should make sure the proper sets of enforceable incentives are in place. In this proposed dissertation research the author conducts a systematic review of 147 articles on telecommunication privatization. This review will help the researcher to analyze the progress of a specific stream of research, answer specific research questions and make recommendations for future research. This is followed by a thorough methodology and research plan. |
