Search Results (54)

(1) Research Highlights: Existing studies primarily focus on the supply-side evaluation of urban forest accessibility, emphasizing physical proximity while often overlooking real-time usage patterns and demographic-specific exposure. This study shifts the focus to social exposure, analyzing how diverse population groups interact with urban forests across different times of the day, integrating dynamic accessibility metrics. (2) Background and Objectives: Unlike previous research that predominantly assessed urban forest accessibility through conventional models based on static spatial proximity, this study incorporates spatiotemporal population distribution data to capture actual utilization patterns. By introducing a dynamic, exposure-based framework, this research aims to facilitate equitable and temporally sensitive access to green spaces across diverse demographic groups. (3) Materials and Methods: This study focuses on Seoul, South Korea, and applies the Gaussian-based Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (G2SFCA) methodology to assess urban forest accessibility. Living population data (2021–2024) from mobile telecommunications sources were used as demand indicators, while OpenStreetMap (OSM) green space data were utilized as supply indicators. Realistic travel distances were calculated using OSM pedestrian networks and Dijkstra’s algorithm, incorporating slope effects and distance decay functions. A K-means clustering algorithm was applied to classify four distinct exposure types based on demographic and temporal variations. (4) Results: The findings reveal significant disparities in urban forest exposure based on age group and time of day. Four major urban forest exposure patterns were identified: Type A—school-age children, with peak usage around midday; Type B—working-age adults, frequenting mid-sized urban forests during commuting and leisure hours; Type C—elderly individuals, utilizing large-scale urban forests and neighborhood parks mainly in the morning; Type D—young adults, engaging with small urban parks and rest areas at various times. (5) Conclusions: Urban forest management must move beyond the quantitative expansion of green spaces and instead implement customized policies that optimize accessibility and equitable distribution based on distinct temporal and demographic patterns of social exposure. By integrating real-time urban mobility data into urban forest planning, policies can better align green space supply with actual usage, fostering a more equitable, data-driven, and sustainable urban green infrastructure. Full article

This study empirically examines the effects of digital services trade liberalization on digital services trade imports and its mediating mechanism through an augmented gravity model, utilizing data from 55 importing nations and 56 exporting countries from 2014 to 2020. Digital services trade liberalization substantially enhances digital services trade imports by reducing trade costs and aligning regulatory integration, and it exerts notable spillover effects on digital goods trade. Moreover, considering the variety of data service trade provisions, trade promotion provisions and privacy protection terms in digital RTAs exert much stronger positive effects on trade imports compared to data flow provisions. Regarding the heterogeneity of policy areas, liberalization initiatives, mainly removing performance and commercial presence criteria for digital services trade, exert the most substantial positive impact on imports of digital services. Furthermore, from the standpoint of industry heterogeneity, trade liberalization in digital services significantly enhances imports in insurance and pension services, intellectual property services, telecommunications, computer and information services, and personal, cultural, and recreational services. Finally, this article finds that a higher level of Internet development between the two parties correlates with a diminished trade promotion benefit of digital service trade liberalization. Full article

The paper intends to contribute to readers’ comprehension of the Greek telecommunications market, focusing on the strategic decisions associated with network tower-sharing analysis in Greece. The Greek telecommunications industry is described for the first time following the Structure–Conduct–Performance (SCP) paradigm of Industrial Organisation (IO), as a methodological tool of analysis. In that respect, an SCP model in its extended form is constructed, aiming to examine how structure, conduct, and performance interrelate to each other. More precisely, the SCP model explains how strategic decisions regarding tower infrastructure sharing between 2013–2022 were developed, as a result of a series of interactions and feedback effects, amongst market structure, operators’ conducts, and performances, resulting in strengthening competition and reshaping market structure with the entrance of a new player in the Greek mobile market, an independent TowerCo (Athens, Greece) in Greece. International tendencies and competition issues influencing domestic growth potentialities and alternative operators’ concentration will be addressed, too. The paper concludes with presenting a basically qualitative, explanatory interpretive analysis of the perspectives of network tower-sharing analysis in the Greek telecommunication industry, including policy recommendations for the near future and thoughts on future research, as well. Full article

Spectrum auctions in international mobile telecommunications (IMT) are a representative method for selling the right to transmit signals within a specific band of electromagnetic waves to communication service providers (CSPs); it is important to design a fair spectrum auction that can benefit both government and auction bidders. The government should reduce the burden of maintenance costs by setting a reasonable initial price and selling it to bidders at the highest price they can afford. However, due to the complex auction rules and decision-making process, not many studies has been conducted on how to select an appropriate initial price for the auction. This study aims at introducing a novel simulation modeling approach to develop a spectrum auction policy for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) using agent-based simulation (ABS), which involves three telecommunications service provider types (i.e., the Aggressive bidder, the Moderate bidder, and the Conservative bidder) and the auction environment of IMT in South Korea. In particular, the proposed approach adopts the exponential utility theory to model the behavior of auction bidders and identify the optimal initial bid price. The devised ABS model is calibrated to the IMT spectrum auction conducted in 2018 in South Korea, and the best initial pricing policy identified (i.e., $85.24 million per spectrum block) regarding a sustainable market environment for existing service providers (i.e., 10 blocks for the Aggressive bidder, 10 blocks for the Moderate bidder, and 8 blocks for the Conservative bidder). The proposed approach will be beneficial to both government agencies and auction bidders under fair competition in the IMT market. Full article

This paper examines types of WLB (Work–Life Balance Policies) that have emerged in research in Western countries, and compares their applicability for male and female employees in Arab countries in general, and in Gaza, Palestine in particular. A qualitative study has been undertaken with employees of telecommunication companies, with thematic analysis to identify new kinds of WLB in an Arab culture. The WLB policies identified in the two companies were often quite different from those identified by Western researchers, and were guided by the religious principles of Islam, cultural factors, and the needs and aspirations of female employees. The international investors identified had adapted their policies to meet the cultural requirements of an Arabic society. This paper contributes to debates on the effectiveness of, and the need for culturally adapted WLB policies which try to meet the aspirations of women in developing countries. Additionally, this case study adds a new theoretical base, advocating the importance of WLB policies which are adapted to local cultural conditions in ways which also meet the aspirations of international business models. The WLB practices identified have not been described previously in any detailed study. The WLB policies and practices identified advocate for further research studies focusing on gender differences in the provision and take-up of WLB, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Full article

This work presents an in-depth evaluation of the telecommunications landscape in Mexico from 2015 to 2023. The study’s primary focus is on the disparities in broadband access, telecommunications infrastructure, and digital inclusion across various regions, particularly between urban and rural areas. By employing predictive models and correlation analysis, the paper identifies key factors influencing technology adoption and service bundling in households. A significant contribution of this research lies in its identification of strong correlations between broadband access, GDP growth, and the penetration of multiple telecommunication services such as fixed telephony, broadband internet, and television. The predictive models developed offer crucial insights into the regional inequalities of digital access, revealing patterns that policymakers can use to prioritize infrastructure investments. The findings underscore the essential role of public policy innovation in promoting digital inclusion, particularly in underdeveloped regions, and provide a robust analytical framework for understanding how advanced telecommunications services contribute to socio-economic development. Through this analytical approach, the study demonstrates the critical relationship between telecommunications infrastructure and regional economic performance, offering data-driven recommendations to bridge the digital divide and enhance connectivity in underserved areas. The results offer significant value for future research and policy initiatives aimed at fostering equitable access to Information and communication technologies, promoting economic growth, and ensuring broader societal inclusion in the digital age. Full article

In this study, we explore the financial and economic integration of BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and key emerging economies (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) using graph theory, aiming to map intersectoral connections and their impact on financial stability and market risk. The research addresses a critical gap in the literature; while political and economic linkages between nations have been widely studied, the specific connectivity between sectors within these economies remains underexplored. Our methodology utilizes eigenvector centrality and Euclidean distance to construct a comprehensive network of 106 publicly listed firms from 2013 to 2022, across sectors such as energy, telecommunications, retail, and technology. The primary hypothesis is that sectors with higher centrality scores—indicative of their interconnectedness within the broader financial network—demonstrate greater resilience to market volatility and contribute disproportionately to sectoral profitability. The analysis yielded several key insights. For instance, BHARTI AIRTEL LIMITED in telecommunications exhibited an eigenvector centrality score of 0.9615, positioning it as a critical node in maintaining sectoral stability, while AMBEV SA in the retail sector, with a centrality score of 0.9938, emerged as a pivotal player influencing both profitability and risk. Sectors led by companies with high centrality showed a 20% increase in risk-adjusted returns compared to less connected entities, supporting the hypothesis that central firms act as stabilizers in fluctuating market conditions. The findings underscore the practical implications for policymakers and investors alike. Understanding the structure of these networks allows for more informed decision making in terms of investment strategies and macroeconomic policy. By identifying the central entities within these economic systems, both policymakers and investors can target their efforts more effectively, either to support growth initiatives or to mitigate systemic risks. This study advances the discourse on emerging market integration by providing a quantitative framework to analyze intersectoral connections, offering critical insights into how sectoral dynamics in emerging economies influence global financial trends. Full article

The emergence of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) in the past decade has challenged our imagination to discover new, innovative and disruptive solutions to problems in domains ranging from finance and healthcare to supply chain and Smart Cities. However, the enormous energy consumption that has been observed in some of the most successful DLT applications raises the question of their long term sustainability. This article reviews the standardization efforts of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to provide guidelines to regulators and policy makers for making informed decisions on the applicability and sustainability of DLT architectures from the point of view of energy consumption. Full article

While 5G has become a reality in several places around the world, some countries are still in the process of assigning frequency bands and deploying networks. In this context, there is a significant opportunity to explore new market models for the management and utilization of the radio spectrum. Access to the radio spectrum results in diverse competition schemes, where market behavior varies based on the regulator-defined access scheme and the competitive strategies of different actors. To thoroughly analyze potential competition scenarios, this work introduces a model that enhances the comprehension of market variables, emphasizing behaviors influenced by relationships. The model’s development leverages the potential of artificial intelligence and historical data from Colombia’s mobile telecommunications market. Intelligent spectrum sensing, based on Software Defined Radio, augments the model’s construction, utilizing lightweight AI algorithms to acquire real data on spectrum occupancy. In this way, the model provides novel insights into market dynamics, enabling the formulation of informed decision-making policies for regulatory bodies. Additionally, the application of causal machine learning (CausalML) helps understand the underlying causes of market behaviors, facilitating the design of guiding policies to maximize spectrum usage and foster competition. This approach demonstrates how AI-driven approaches and a deeper understanding of market dynamics can lead to effective 5G spectrum management, fostering a more competitive and efficient wireless communication landscape. Full article

With the rapid rollout and growing adoption of 3GPP 5thGeneration (5G) cellular services, including in critical infrastructure sectors, it is important to review security mechanisms, risks, and potential vulnerabilities within this vital technology. Numerous security capabilities need to work together to ensure and maintain a sufficiently secure 5G environment that places user privacy and security at the forefront. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all pillars of a privacy and security framework that define major aspects of 5G operations. They are incorporated and considered in the design of the 5G standard by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with the goal of providing a highly reliable network operation for all. Through a comprehensive review, we aim to analyze the ever-evolving landscape of 5G, including any potential attack vectors and proposed measures to mitigate or prevent these threats. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art research that has been conducted in recent years regarding 5G systems, focusing on the main components in a systematic approach: the Core Network (CN), Radio Access Network (RAN), and User Equipment (UE). Additionally, we investigate the utilization of 5G in time-dependent, ultra-confidential, and private communications built around a Zero Trust approach. In today’s world, where everything is more connected than ever, Zero Trust policies and architectures can be highly valuable in operations containing sensitive data. Realizing a Zero Trust Architecture entails continuous verification of all devices, users, and requests, regardless of their location within the network, and grants permission only to authorized entities. Finally, developments and proposed methods of new 5G and future 6G security approaches, such as Blockchain technology, post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) schemes, are also discussed to understand better the full landscape of current and future research within this telecommunications domain. Full article

Sustainable waste management is becoming a common goal in most countries. The national legal framework largely determines the waste management practices, the socio-demographic characteristics, and the economic level of the country and, in the case of businesses, the type of business, the industry in which it operates, and the sector-specific regulations to which it is subject. This paper aims to examine the importance that firms worldwide place on waste management by analyzing the evolution over time of waste management practices used by firms and how this evolution has varied across countries and sectors. The X-STATIS technique is applied to conduct a multivariate analysis using data from seven-hundred and eighty firms from twenty-eight countries and eight sectors from 2016 to 2020 (3900 observations). The results show that waste management has become more important worldwide over time. In terms of waste management practices, the management of the impacts of generated waste occupies the first place in the ranking, performed by 97.5% of the sampled firms in 2020; this is followed by the methods of the disposal of non-hazardous waste (66%) while waste prevention policies occupy the last place in the ranking (30.6%). At the country level, the most committed countries are Taiwan (74.3%) and Finland (70.6%), followed by France, Spain, Russia, Italy, and the United States (60.0–66.9%); meanwhile, the least committed countries are the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland (35–36%). At the sector level, consumer goods (63.7%) and oil and gas (63.0%) lead the ranking while the least committed sectors are technology and telecommunications (50.0%) and real estate services (49.3%). The evolution of companies’ commitment to waste management is gradual in all sectors, with oil and gas at the top, with a percentage variation of 21.4%, and consumer goods at the bottom, with 5.2%. In addition, our results suggest that the sector influences waste management practices more than the country of origin of the firms. Full article

In wireless communication, small cells are low-powered cellular base stations that can be used to enhance the coverage and capacity of wireless networks in areas where traditional cell towers may not be practical or cost-effective. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used to quickly deploy and position small cells in areas that are difficult to access or where traditional infrastructure is not feasible. UAVs are deployed by telecommunication service providers to provide aerial network access in remote rural areas, disaster-affected areas, or massive-attendance events. In this paper, we focus on the scheduling of beaconing periods as an efficient means of energy consumption optimization. The conducted study provides a sub-modular game perspective of the problem and investigates its structural properties. We also provide a learning algorithm that ensures convergence of the considered UAV network to a Nash equilibrium operating point. Finally, we conduct extensive numerical investigations to assist our claims about the energy and data rate efficiency of the strategic beaconing policy (at Nash equilibrium). Full article

From a public health standpoint, a stringent visitation policy was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it had unforeseen communicative and emotional health consequences for family members. This study explored family members’ experiences regarding implementing a restricted visitation policy when a patient was admitted with COVID-19 at public hospitals in the Vhembe district. Researchers used an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual qualitative technique. Twelve family members made up the population. Unstructured telephone interviews were used to obtain the data, and open coding was used to analyse data. Ethics were consistently followed. Before taking part, participants provided verbal informed consent, acknowledging that they could withdraw from the study if necessary. Three themes emerged: inadequate measures for temporary communication channels and techniques, the mental health effects of COVID-19 admission, and poor/lack of standardised visitation policy during the COVID 19-pandemic. There was a need to balance safety from contracting COVID-19 infection and promoting family-centred care. Virtual visits through telecommunication solutions could reduce fear and anxiety as the family could be updated on the progress of the hospitalised relative. Alternatively, hospital managers must allocate a dedicated person in the unit to update families when they call and enquire about the conditions. Full article

As telecommunication networks become increasingly critical for societal functioning, ensuring their resilience in the face of energy disruptions is paramount. This review paper comprehensively analyzes strategies and challenges associated with achieving energy resilience in telecommunication networks. It explores various aspects, including policies, energy backup systems, renewable energy integration, and energy management techniques. This paper discusses how these strategies can be implemented to build resilience across three phases: preparedness (referring to the proactive measures taken in advance), response and relief, recovery and reconstruction. Additionally, it discusses the challenges associated with implementing energy resilience measures, taking into account policies, sustainability and environment, and climate change. By synthesizing existing research and identifying research gaps, this review paper aims to provide insights into the state-of-the-art practices and future directions for enhancing energy resilience in telecommunications, enabling robust and uninterrupted communication services. Full article

Due to the rapid innovative applications of technological education as a result of the swift development and popularity of telecommunication and wireless technologies, ever-more diversified methods of technological education play a critical role in various education and lecturing activities, without time and distance restrictions. Currently, in order to bridge the urban–rural development gap, the Taiwanese Government has introduced a lot of policies to encourage teenagers to return their hometowns; however, these policies have not achieved their goals, as the most of Taiwanese community development associations faced scarcities of professional knowledge without any educational support during the development of their various schemes, such as economic development, environmental protection, cultural heritage, public services, etc. As a result, local development depends on entire community development associations, especially in the most mountain regions of Taiwan. Moreover, community development associations have a lot of social responsibilities, such as age-related caring activities, driving local economies and industrial development, environmental protection and education, maintaining and developing traditional cultures and arts, etc. Due to the digital characteristics of technological education, most Taiwanese rural community development associations are able to obtain professional information and data about courses without space and time restrictions. Thus, after strengthening and satisfying professionals’ demands, local economies will achieve growth and, therefore, younger persons would be encouraged to stay their original area, thus stimulating the development of rural community development associations. Eventually, the positive development cycle is predicted to increased and, as a result, the urban–rural disparities will be directly diminished by the diversified application of technological education in Taiwan. Full article