Table 1 Examples of secondary sources... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Examples of secondary sources and insights gained

Type	Insights gained
Research on USF in Africa: (Arakpogun et al., 2017, 2018; Gillwald, 2005) Consultancy based studies on USF in Africa: (Dorward, 2013; GSMA, 2014; Intelecon, 2009; ITU, 2013; Sepulveda, 2010; Stern and Townsend, 2007)	These sources were generated during the literature search process. The following key insights were provided ⁃ An understanding of the state of the telecoms market in general and the problem of digital divide in particular ⁃ Various UAS policies and the use of USF as a popular tool for closing the digital divide in over 30 African countries ⁃ The process of establishing USF, funding USF, USF governance and USF performance, active and inactive funds ⁃ Why most African USF are largely inactive and how some countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda are setting relatively good examples compared to others
Social media and Web pages of institutional bodies such as telecoms regulators, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank and GSMA Intelligence	The archival records provided by these sources were useful in ⁃ The verification of the findings of the extant work on USF in Africa ⁃ Gathering historical and recent data on the state of telecoms industry, digital divide and USF in Africa ⁃ Identifying and contacting regulators responsible for the governance of USF in various African countries ⁃ Identifying and contacting public policy directors of mobile network operators who contribute to USF levies ⁃ Triangulating the primary information generated from the interview data
Online articles from sources such as Balancing Act, Financial Times, ITNews Africa, ITWeb Africa, Reuters, Telecompaper and TeleGeography	The information that was tracked, generated and documented from these online (news) sources was vital to ⁃ Tracking the state of USF in Africa ⁃ Getting up-to-date information and relevant data on the phenomenon of digital divide in Africa ⁃ Tracking changes of UAS policies in Africa ⁃ Sourcing further information for more clarity on obscure UAS policies on regulatory websites ⁃ Identifying and contacting key respondents for interviews

Type	Insights gained
Research on USF in Africa: (Arakpogun et al., 2017, 2018; Gillwald, 2005)Consultancy based studies on USF in Africa: (Dorward, 2013; GSMA, 2014; Intelecon, 2009; ITU, 2013; Sepulveda, 2010; Stern and Townsend, 2007)	These sources were generated during the literature search process. The following key insights were provided ⁃ An understanding of the state of the telecoms market in general and the problem of digital divide in particular ⁃ Various UAS policies and the use of USF as a popular tool for closing the digital divide in over 30 African countries ⁃ The process of establishing USF, funding USF, USF governance and USF performance, active and inactive funds ⁃ Why most African USF are largely inactive and how some countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda are setting relatively good examples compared to others
Social media and Web pages of institutional bodies such as telecoms regulators, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank and GSMA Intelligence	The archival records provided by these sources were useful in ⁃ The verification of the findings of the extant work on USF in Africa ⁃ Gathering historical and recent data on the state of telecoms industry, digital divide and USF in Africa ⁃ Identifying and contacting regulators responsible for the governance of USF in various African countries ⁃ Identifying and contacting public policy directors of mobile network operators who contribute to USF levies ⁃ Triangulating the primary information generated from the interview data
Online articles from sources such as Balancing Act, Financial Times, ITNews Africa, ITWeb Africa, Reuters, Telecompaper and TeleGeography	The information that was tracked, generated and documented from these online (news) sources was vital to ⁃ Tracking the state of USF in Africa ⁃ Getting up-to-date information and relevant data on the phenomenon of digital divide in Africa ⁃ Tracking changes of UAS policies in Africa ⁃ Sourcing further information for more clarity on obscure UAS policies on regulatory websites ⁃ Identifying and contacting key respondents for interviews