고령층 이동통신 요금감면 제도가 이동통신 요금 및 이용 시간 등에 미친 영향분석

초록

The mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly was implemented under the background that support was needed to ensure the elderly’s right to access communication services as various services in daily life are provided through mobile communication services. Accordingly, the mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly has the goal of eliminating the digital divide by not only reducing the burden of communication expenditures but also encouraging the use of digital services. However, due to the lack of empirical analysis on the effectiveness of the mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly, it is not possible to confirm whether the goal has been achieved, and as the rates reduction amount continues to increase, controversy is being raised about who will bear the financial burden. Against this background, in this study, data from the Korea Media Panel Survey were analyzed using a difference-in-differences model to measure the effectiveness of the mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly contributed to reducing beneficiaries’ mobile communication expenditures and increasing the time spent using value-added telecommunications services. On the other hand, despite the implementation of mobile communication service rates reduction system for the elderly, beneficiaries’ voice call usage time and number of text messaging usage appeared to have decreased, confirming that the rates reduction did not contribute to the beneficiaries’ increase in facilities-based telecommunications services usage time. From an economic perspective, the existence of network externalities has been used as the basis for not only the obligation of telecommunications carriers to provide universal services, including rates reductions for vulnerable groups, but also the obligation to share financial resources. Looking at the significant increase in beneficiaries’ usage time of value-added telecommunications services due to the implementation of the rates reduction system for the elderly, it can be seen that the benefits of value-added communication service providers, such as increased network external effects, have increased due to the rates reduction system. In a situation where the telecommunication market structure is changing due to market and technological development, it is time to review the appropriateness of the current structure in which the facilities-based telecommunication service provider is fully responsible for providing universal services and sharing financial resources, including rate reductions for vulnerable groups.

키워드