The race between the dragon and the elephant: Comparing China and India's National Broadband Plans

Some 134 national broadband plans are now in place around the world. Opinions are divided regarding the role of government in broadband markets: should the government act as an 'enabler' or as the 'rule-maker'? In this context, this article analyses the ambitious national broadband plans recently announced by China and India, two rising economic powerhouses. Traditionally, China's telecommunications development has been driven by investments from government-allied entities and a strong industrial policy, while India's approach has relied on government policy to create the framework for private investment with a limited range of subsidies on the supply side. We trace the antecedents of the different policy approaches adopted by the two countries towards their respective broadband sectors, compare and contrast the motivations that have driven them to draft the national broadband plans and evaluate the effectiveness of government policies and regulations.