for new water services, given that the overall population will be stable. Indeed the rising expectations and relative wealth of their populations may well result in calls for higher levels and different forms of service from the existing infrastructure (Ashley and Cashman). Technology Technology plays a role in the development of all infrastructures, but its importance varies across sectors. Past experience also suggests that technical change is highly unpredictable and can have far-reaching impacts on infrastructure (e.g. the impact of mobile telephony on fixed line infrastructure, and of the Internet on the telecommunications sector and the economy at large). INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND TRANSPORT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY - ISBN 92-64-02398-4 - © OECD 2006 1. A CROSS-SECTORAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURES TO 2030 Technology is considered particularly important for telecoms, as it is likely to be a driver behind the very rapid expansion of telecom networks expected in the coming decades by bringing about drastic reductions in communications costs (Bohlin, et al.). Particularly significant in this regard will be the widespread adoption of VoIP, further progress in fibre optic, greater data processing capabilities, the development of new mobile technologies, the introduction of location-based services, the further miniaturisation of equipment, progress in storage capacity, improved batteries and the development of local energy technologies for powering telecom equipment. Moreover, RFID could change logistics and medical care infrastructure services and will require new infrastructure for their effective implementation. In addition to the prospects identified by the authors, there may prove to be greater than expected potential both for space telecommunications (e.g. development of intelligent satellites and routers in the sky with onboard processing and multiple spot beams) and for the convergence of content and carriage (e.g. development of virtual reality applications). However,