MERCURY

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's 1984 privatization of British Telecom was a landmark moment for neoliberalism. It served to popularize and vindicate the sale of state utilities around the world. This article shows how computer models of the future were central for British telecommunications', and thus for Britain's, transition from social democracy to neoliberalism, from monopoly to market. The British telecommunications network was a key interest in both the social democratic and neoliberal British state's plans for the digitalization of Britain. I argue that computers were crucial to the rise of neoliberalism, both as a managerial tool that simulated futures of free markets and as a technology that symbolized and supported the contraction of the British state. This article traces the history of the British telecommunications system's Long Range Planning Department, which was at the heart of British Telecom's privatization. In doing so, it argues that the history of technology is in a unique position to study how tools such as computers both forecast and symbolize the political power of the future.

In 2005, Ofcom, then telecommunications regulator in the United Kingdom, implemented functional separation of British Telecom plc (BT), separating its wholesale and retail services. BT established a division within the company, Openreach, to provide equal access to its local access network and backhaul products. The tenth anniversary of this regulatory and corporate experiment is an appropriate moment to ask whether functionally separating Openreach from BT benefited consumers. We find that Openreach's creation generated short-run consumer benefits in the form of lower prices but also led to negative long-run effects, which outweighed the short-term price reduction. Our econometric analysis indicates that prices for broadband and residential fixed-line telephone services are lower than one would expect based on prices in comparable countries. However, telecommunications investment, customer satisfaction, and measures of the United Kingdom's global competitiveness in telecommunications have also fallen. In particular, the United Kingdom's investment in next-generation networks is lagging compared with the rest of the world.

Privatization of public utilities in the United Kingdom has been the key vehicle for attaining further improvement in living standards since the mid-1980s. The United Kingdom was the first of the developed nations to privatize public utilities in 1984 when it sold British Telecom (BT). In subsequent years, almost all developed and developing nations followed suit. Simultaneously, the UK's privatization initiatives established independent regulatory agencies to oversee the performance of the newly privatized natural monopolies to protect all the parties (consumers, operators and government) from any adverse consequences of privatization. Most importantly, the regulators oversee and manage the affects of privatization on price increases. This paper investigates the price control regulation of privatized utilities in the UK with a view to gaining further lessons from these experiences for the developing Asian nations where privatization of utilities is currently being seriously considered for adoption. The lessons are investigated from the economic viewpoints.

: This paper explores and analyzes the privatization of the public housing sector in the United Kingdom. In doing so, it argues that the sale of state-owned dwellings has been one of the most significant achievements of the Thatcher administrations. While share issues in state enterprises, such as British Telecom or British Gas, have attracted widespread academic attention, it is the reshaping of the housing sector which has had major social, spatial, and fiscal impacts. Within the welfare state, public housing has, so far, borne the brunt of privatization.

How can managers start to change the beliefs and direction of a large organization? What is the role which team learning tools can play in making such changes possible? Illustrates the difficulties in implementing a market strategy for the introduction of ISDN‐Integrated Services Digital Networks. BT′s opportunity cut across the conventional organization boundaries and challenged many of the mental models which typified current thinking. Demonstrates how a system of team learning based on the “Marlow Model” can build new, more holistic models of the marketplace. From this kernel of understanding, the challenge of influencing the direction of the organization at large began to emerge. Shares both the pitfalls and the successes to help others who may be considering setting out on similar programmes.

Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) has emerged as a possible contender for the next generation switching system and fundamental transport basis for the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) and telecommunications in the future. It is widely thought of as the network to accommodate the uncertain requirements of future public communications because of its high degree of flexibility and service independency. The Orwell protocol developed by British Telecom can provide a communication base to meet the requirements of such a network. Orwell is used here as a slotted ring protocol designed to carry a mixture of services which form the basis of an ATM network. The paper describes the realisation of a 155.52 Mbit/s fibre-optic physical layer from the Orwell protocol based on an ATM technology, and also discusses how the Orwell protocol can offer broadband transport capabilities and can provide access to and interwork with existing networks, such as telephone networks and 64 kbit/s based ISDNs.

How optical fibre technology has come of age, to provide a bit rate faster than computers can handle. Until three years ago, the computer industry complained that British Telecom could not provide a transmission bit rate fast enough. Now the problem is the opposite – data can be transmitted at a rate that is too fast for the machines. The ability of the network to convey information from one place to another has simply outstripped the ability of computers to access it, and the computer industry has protocols which are not suitable for handling high speed data.

This article looks at the definition of cyber terrorism and terrorist use of the Internet. The article evaluates cyber terrorist threats facing countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, India and South Africa. The article also examines measures introduced by the respective governments in these countries to counteract cyber terrorist threats. Finally, the article will propose a way forward to counteract such possible threats in the future. The face of terrorism is changing. The convergence of the physical and virtual worlds has resulted in the creation of a “new threat” called cyber terrorism. Cyber terrorism is one of the recognised cyber crimes. The absence of suitable legal frameworks to address cyber terrorism at national and regional levels, the lack of adequate safeguards, the lack of cyber security strategies and the pre-occupation of countries with internal factors have all contributed to the creation of an environment that can be easily infiltrated by cyber terrorists. The horrific events of 9/11 provided the impetus for many countries to introduce antiterrorist legislation. The United States of America, United Kingdom, India and South Africa have introduced legislation to address the threat of cyber terrorism.KEYWORDS: Cyber space, cyber terrorists, cyber crime, cyber terrorism, hacktivism; legislation, international legislation; anti-terrorist legislation, cyber security, computer networks, critical infrastructure; United States of America, United Kingdom, India, South Africa.

A Legal Analysis of Cybercrimes and Cybertorts: Lessons for Nigeria

Using online digital media is increasingly the primary form in which young people will access information and entertainment – even at the age of 3 to 4 years of age, approximately half the children in the United Kingdom now have access to a tablet device to access online content whilst almost a quarter of 8 to 11 year olds have a social media profile (Ofcom, 2017). Digital online networks have altered much of society, enabling increased access to multimedia information, interactive content and communities on both a local and global scale. When knowledge is increasingly seen as existing in networks, and learning as forming and navigating these networks, many existing aspects of education are perceived to be subject to change (Siemens, 2005; Mitra, 2006; Downes, 2012). It might be argued that the attributes of digital environments facilitate patterns of learning more appropriate for an information society that requires creativity, divergent thinking and lifelong learning, enabling an ability to adapt to the rapid changes that typify a post-industrial world (Florida, 2006; Robinson, 2010). Pupils’ immersion in digital media and online networks means they inevitably expect education to be a participative, engaging, and active environment (Dede, 2005). Moreover, evidence suggests that pupils’ motivation and attainment can be improved with the intervention of digital learning strategies (Underwood, 2009; Baytak, Tarman and Ayas, 2011; Mitra and Crawley, 2014; Education Endowment Foundation, 2018). However, digital strategies for learning have been met with criticism and a cautious reception. It has been suggested that the use of digital strategies undermines the teaching profession, making the role of the teacher increasingly obsolete whilst reducing learners to passive receptacles of information, subject to instrumental targets and assessment, which fail to develop deeper levels of understanding (Bauerlein, 2009; Oppenheimer, 2004; Carr, 2011; Selwyn, 2014). Prominent theories of digital learning are contested for failing to provide a sufficient explanation of learning and the role of human agency within the process. This chapter therefore explores whether digital learning theories, strategies and environments enhance or limit pupils’ learning and to what extent the role of the teacher is still important in learners’ development.

Developments of digital satellite networks are progressing in Europe at international as well as national levels. EUTELSAT and its signatories are actively setting up two regional networks based on the ECS satellites built by ESA. One will carry large bundles of telephone circuits between national gateways; the other will provide special services to corporate organizations and businesses. On the other hand, several countries are implementing or planning their own national networks, all for small-station services. These are France with Telecom 1, Sweden with TELE-X, Norway with NORSAT II, Italy with ITALSAT, the Federal Republic of Germany with DFS/Copernicus, and the United Kingdom with UNISAT. These projects are described here and their characteristics compared. The paper brings out the great diversity in the approaches, as illustrated by Telecom 1 where the accent is on the development of an ISDN, TELE-X where it is on the low cost of user stations, and ITALSAT on the flexibility of the network.

This study aims to analyze research patterns and trends in emotional well-being interventions for adolescent mental health from 2019-2024 through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.Using the Scopus database, 19,995 relevant documents were analyzed using R-Studio software for bibliometric indicators, collaboration networks, and thematic mapping.Results show a consistent increase in publications, from 2,540 articles in 2019 to a projected 3,967 articles in 2024, with publications from 2020 showing the highest citation impact (25.86 citations per article).The Journal of Affective Disorders emerged as the most prolific source with 882 publications.The United States leads in researchproductivity with 6,510 articles (32.6% of total publications), followed by the United Kingdom and China.Network analysis identified key research clusters around mental health, depression, and anxiety, with emerging themes related to social media impact and pandemic effects.The findings highlight the field's rapid evolution in response to global challenges and emphasize the need for increased international collaboration and research contribution from developing countries.

The United Kingdom Post Office is a statutory corporation organized into three main businesses—letters, parcels, and counters. The counters business was established as a wholly owned subsidiary, Post Office Counters Ltd., in October 1987. The letters and parcels businesses are not separate legal entities, but they have their own internal accounts and are organizationally distinct. The Post Office derives its powers mainly from Section 7 of the Post Office Act 1969; it has the power to provide the various services specified there which include postal services, banking services, and services for Government. Section 59 of the British Telecommunication Act 1981 (BT Act 1981) requires the Post Office in exercising its powers to have regard to (1) efficiency and economy; (2) the social, industrial and commercial needs of the United Kingdom with respect to the matters subserved by its powers; (3) the desirability of improving and developing its operating systems; and (4) developments in the field of communications and banking. Additionally, The Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has the power (HMSO 1969) to direct the Post Office to do work of any kind for government departments and local authorities.

International research has shown that in most countries, there are few women studying towards information technology (IT) careers (Galpin, 2002), and there is much research, particularly in the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (UK) and Australia into why this is the case (Gürer & Camp, 2002). This article considers the situation in sub-Saharan Africa and focuses on women’s involvement in the generation and creation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa, as opposed to ICT use in sub-Saharan Africa, which is considered elsewhere in this volume. There are a number of aspects to the generation and creation of ICTs: how women are involved in this process as IT professionals and how they are educated for these careers, as well how technology can be used appropriately within the specific conditions of sub-Saharan Africa. ICTs will be considered in the broadest sense of the word, covering all electronic technologies, from computers and networking to radio and television. Women’s participation is important: The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Gender Caucus (www.genderwsis.org) has identified women’s involvement in the design and development of technology as well as technology management policy, as key principles for the information society. Marcelle (2001) emphasizes the necessity for African women to become involved in technological and scientific areas, including “computer science, software engineering, network design, network management and related disciplines” (Marcelle, 2001, para. 15) to create an information society appropriate for African women. The diversity of those involved in design leads to higher-quality and more appropriate technological solutions (Borg, 2002; Lazowska, 2002). Background Sub-Saharan Africa has a population of 641 million, young (almost half under 15) and rural (35% urban). Significant problems are undernourishment, poverty and HIV/AIDS (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2004). All the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are classified as developing countries. Some countries are relatively wealthy, such as Mauritius, South Africa, and Nigeria, but have large wealth disparities within their populations. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to focus on the home, they have less access to education and health, and their contribution to family and community is not valued (Huyer, 1997).

World War I helped to precipitate the demise of the settlement achieved under the Telegraph Act of 1868, but it did not collapse until the eve of World War II. The end of war in 1918 ushered in an age of “rationalization” among newsgatherers, concentration of ownership among newspapers, and a period of increased competition in both sectors. The British government played an important part in this process by creating an environment generally conducive to rationalization and combination, particularly during the wars and especially with respect to broadcasting, even if the rationale that motivated interwar intervention was not as explicit as that which motivated the Victorians. The BBC, established as a public corporation in 1926, wielded considerable power in the market by virtue of the monopoly granted to it by the state. The threat the BBC posed to existing industry alliances undermined cooperation and precipitated merger. Seen in this light, the subsidization of the press by the British state did not disappear. Instead, it shifted to radio. The creation of the BBC marked the end of the consensus established in 1868 and signaled the start of a new policy regime with respect to news. The war brought to fruition those changes already underway in the 1890s. The PA embraced leased lines, but it continued to rely on the London press, Extel, and Reuters to subsidize the news reports it provided to the provincial press. Only when these alternative lines of revenue dried up, was the PA forced to charge provincial newspapers differently for a like service of news. As in other areas of industrial activity, such as alcohol and chemicals, mergers occurred during the interwar period among firms previously linked by agreements. Reuters and the PA merged, which in retrospect appears to have been the culmination of a fifty-five-year courtship, the operations of Extel and the PA became more closely intertwined, and the PA purchased Central News, a tertiary organization that had long been the PA’s foil. More so than before the war, the landscape in Britain resembled that in the United States. The British United Press (BUP), a subsidiary of the American UP, increased competition in the United Kingdom. The largest visible difference between the two countries lay in their varying responses to broadcasting.