The report tracks progress in digital opportunity for 181 economies over the past few years since the start of the WSIS process and is accompanied by a series of tables providing the latest statistics on the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide.
In an effort to measure and bridge the digital divide, several different types of indicators have been developed to measure the readiness of a country to adopt information and communication technology (ICT). Many of these indicators measure the extent to which the technology has been adopted within the target population. While some indicators recognize the importance of computer skills and e-literacy, there has been minimal effort to develop a multi-factor set of indicators to measure ICT human resource capacity.
This publication, the first in a series of reports covering the state of the information society on an annual basis, focuses on the theme of participation. The report has three interrelated goals: surveying the state of the field of ICT policy at the local and global levels; encouraging critical debate; and strengthening networking and advocacy for a just, inclusive information society. It discusses the WSIS process and a range of international institutions, regulatory agencies and monitoring instruments from the perspective of civil society and stakeholders in the global South.
The aim of this publication is twofold. The first is to present a coherent picture of the state of the information society in the world. To achieve this, the publication presents available statistical data based on a core set of internationally agreed information and communication technology (ICT) indicators. The second aim is to show recent developments in ICT measurement and, importantly, highlight the considerable gaps that remain. The publication has been produced by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development.
One outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society was a Plan of Action enunciating ten targets to be achieved by 2015 of which the first is: “...to connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points...” This report describes research to measure the target. It is based on questionnaires sent to developing country telecommunication administrations as well as review of relevant reports issued by government statistical and ICT-related agencies and other sources.
The biennial Digital Review of Asia Pacific is a comprehensive guide to the state-of-practice and trends in information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) in Asia Pacific. This third edition (2007–2008) covers 31 countries and economies. Each country chapter presents key ICT policies, applications,and initiatives for national development. In addition, five thematic chapters provide a synthesis of some of the key issues in ICT4D in the region, including mobile and wireless technologies, risk communication, intellectual property regimes,and localization.
This study on information technology needs assessment and readiness assesses the needs of the Sub-region to recommend steps for development and use of IT-based services for overall economic growth in the Sub-region.
UNESCAP Reference No.: ST/ESCAP/2244
The manual serves as a reference for national statistical offices and other producers of official statistics on business use of information and communications technology (ICT). The Manual provides a guide to data collection and analysis, international standards, and definitions. It also offers model questions for surveys on ICT use, and it reviews important institutional issues related to compiling ICT statistics.
The latest edition of Measuring the Information Society features the new ITU ICT Development Index. The Index captures the level of advancement of ICTs in more than 150 countries worldwide and compares progress made between 2002 and 2007. It also measures the global digital divide and examines how it has developed in recent years. The report also features a new ICT Price Basket, which combines fixed, mobile and broadband tariffs for 2008 into one measure and compares it across countries.
Information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) projects can only be considered successful if they lead to some kind of individual, social, or economic development. The benefits of introducing ICT4D projects in developing countries are yet to be realized, particularly those introduced in mountainous and remote areas. This study addresses this knowledge gap by analyzing the Nepal Wireless Networking Project from the mountain areas in Nepal using the assets pentagon model (APM).
