Ownership and Control of Information and Communication Technologies: Implications for Business Sustainability in Developing and Emerging Economies

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become foundational to economic development, business transformation, and global integration. However, in developing and emerging economies, the ownership and governance structures of ICT resources ranging from telecommunications infrastructure to digital platforms and data ecosystems are often highly concentrated. This structural concentration influences who benefits from digital transformation and who is excluded. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of how ICT ownership and control affect business sustainability across economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions in developing regions. Using interdisciplinary literature, theoretical models, and cross-regional trends, the study argues that unequal control of ICT infrastructure reinforces dependency, limits local value capture, accelerates environmental vulnerabilities, and exacerbates digital inequalities. The paper concludes with an extensive set of policy recommendations aimed at enabling inclusive ICT governance, building local capacity, advancing digital sovereignty, and promoting environmentally responsible digital growth.