Internet Overview:

Internet for Development

IT for Decision Makers

By Taholo Kami for UNESCO

Mission

Improve the quality of life of the people of …….(Name of Country)

Objectives - Overall

 Overview and understanding of ICT opportunities, issues and implications for (Insert Name of Country)  Matching national / sectoral priorities and ICT opportunities.  Identifying actions that will enable a knowledge driven society.

Objectives - Participants

 All participants understand the possibilities available to them in their various roles in the information age.  All participants are able to identify opportunities and issues that directly affect them and initiate actions for change.

What is the Internet?

 Global Network  Computers connecting people  400 million users  Educated / up market but spreading quickly  Implications in the Pacific  Globalization  Access to global information resources  Extends marketing possibilities  Instant communications

A Global Network

Global Online Population?

 350 - 407 million - Dec 2001  USA/ Canada  Europe 113m 167 m  Asia / Pacific 104.8  74.6m or 71% from Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia.  Africa 3.1m

 Middle East 2.4m

 Latin America 16.45

Source: Nua Internet Surveys

Obstacles - Access and Participation

 Access  Expensive  Cost of Computer  Internet Connectivity - $1- $8/hour for dial up connection  Internet Penetration  Less then 3% of population  Limited to capital or key cities

Obstacles - Capacity

 Awareness of Internet potential  Unaware of Existence of Network / s  Cost vs. Benefits unconvincing  Untrained users  Local IT skills are premium commodities  Computer literacy still low

Internet Applications

 E Commerce  Tele medicine / Health  Distance Education  E Governance  Agriculture Knowledge Networks  Virtual Communities

Strategy

 Infrastructure  Human Capacity Building  Investment  Policy and Regulation

Components

 Infrastructure  In Developed Countries the challenge is now getting the under privileged and remote areas online  Developing Countries basic Telecommunications infrastructure competes with roads, electricity, transport, education for funding.  Economic returns of Telecommunications infrastructure is more difficult to quantify.

Policy and Regulation

I.T. Policy should be aimed at creating an “enabling environment” with affordable access at its core.  Duty Free for IT Hardware  Cost / Benefits determined  Incentives for Investment in IT  Sound Business Environment

Capacity Building

 Developing local capacity in IT skills via education and incentives  Benchmarks  Training Teachers - Priority  All Students at 4th Form level….

 Build value into an Internet Passport scheme  Pilot projects in core development priority areas  Tourism, Trade, Governance

Financial Support

 Financial commitment from Government and donors to strengthen key sectors for development including Telecommunications infrastructure.  Identify core competency areas and fund development of information tools in these fields.  Synergy will lead to IT development in other fields

E Culture

 A culture of innovation and entrepreneurship must be developed  Recognize impact on society and develop strategy to counter negative issues.  Develop strategies for building local content and utilizing the Internet to enhance and promote culture

Conclusion

 The Internet provides opportunities to new and expanded markets for the Pacific Islands.  Information technology provides new development opportunities to enhance and transform national services such as governance, education, health and commerce.  A concise national IT strategy will ensure scarce resources are utilized in providing necessary infrastructure and services to enable IT development in key sectors.

Ground Rules

1. Its all about People  Sell Value - benefits  Connect to objectives 2. Relevance Not Reverence  Keep technology in perspective  Vehicle for achieving our objectives

3. Keep a Borderless perspective 4. Innovate……. Break the Rules