Leapfrogging in switching systems

The rapid emergence of new technologies has increased the rate of obsolescene. This creates the possibility that developing countries and, in particular, newly industrializing countries may leapfrog older generations of technologies. We lay out the issues and variables to the considered for an understanding of leapfrogging in telephone switching systems. In particular, we distinguish between demand-driven and infrastructure-driven leapfrogging. Data for the early 1980s offer some evidence that demand-driven leapfrogging was most prevalent in countries with intermediate network maturity. Infrastructure-driven leapfrogging has taken place mainly in France, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.