ICTlogy

Abstract:

The Partnership´s report indicates, among other things, that there has been an increase in the collection of ICT data by developing countries but that more such nations need to incorporate ICT statistics into their regular statistical surveys -- that such information is vital for making effective decisions on linking national economies into global information networks and for taking advantage of the opportunities such technologies as the Internet offer for development.

The report notes that a major challenge to such progress is that while the per capita cost of joining ICT networks is low in industrialized nations, it is very high for the world´s least developed countries (LDCs).

Even a relative ICT success story in the developing world -- mobile phone use -- lags behind rates of use in developed nations, the report says. Mobile phone penetration increased dramatically in LDC economies, for example, between 1995 and 2006 -- from 0% to 10%. But these numbers are far below the level of 92% penetration in 2006 among developed countries.

Data on household access to and use of ICT is relatively scant, the report notes, but indicates a broad pattern of much higher connectivity in the developed world. Among the exceptions are the wealthier Asian economies, which have very high levels of broadband access by households.