Connectivity

A Wireless End Run Around ISPs

An interesting article from businessweek on ISPs and wireless internet access sharing.

Online Free IT Guide

A guide to free resources available to NGOs and businesses to use computers and the Internet. This document provides a brief introduction to some of the most important resources, including where to get free or low cost computers, where to get free email accounts, how to develop and host your website for free, and where to get free software.

Bridging the Digital Divide

Many observers attributed the rapid productivity growth observed in the United States in the mid- to late 1990s, to the growing use of information, and the Internet. This in turn created concern that developing, and transition economies - where use of information technology, and the Internet was less widespread - would be left behind as productivity, and growth accelerated in technologically advanced countries, and stagnated elsewhere. Using enterprise-level data from twelve transition economies, the author looks at factors that affect whether enterprises in these countries are connected to the Internet. He finds that foreign-owned enterprises are more likely to have Internet access than other enterprises. And that employee-owned enterprises are less likely to have access. Even after controlling for other factors that might affect Internet connectivity, the quality of a country's telecommunications infrastructure appears to have a significant effect on the likelihood that an enterprise in that country has Internet access. Reducing corruption, and taking other steps to improve the business environment, would benefit domestic economies, even if Internet access had little short-term impact on productivity, or growth.

Community ICT and Networking Resources

United Nations Information Technology Service has a resources page for Community ICT and Networking Resources. This page is usefull to anybody looking for resources to help establish community partnerships and participation.

BBC News: Connecting the villages

An article from the BBC about the use of ICT in rural villages to extend the reach of medical services.

Connection discrepancies: Unmasking further layers of the digital divide

Connection discrepancies: Unmasking further layers of the digital divide by Elizabeth Davison and Shelia R. Cotten In assessing the integration of the Internet into society, scholars have documented that certain sectors of the population are disadvantaged by their lack of access to computer resources. The disadvantaged have traditionally included the less educated, non-whites, females, the elderly and lower income people. Scholars are now beginning to address differences in Internet experiences among Internet users, but most studies fail to account for the type of connection people use to access the Internet. The purpose of this study is to expand the level of information surrounding Internet connections. This study finds that (1) most Internet data sources fail to ask questions about types of Internet connections; (2) broadband users experience the Internet differently; and, (3) in determining who is likely to spend more time online, the type of connection is more important than other digital divide demographics such as education, race or gender. Subsequently, those engaged in the exploration of our Internet society should start controlling for how Internet users connect to the World Wide Web.

BBC News: Digital divide 'hits rural business'

A BBC article on how the digital devide is affecting rural business in the UK.

MIT Lab: Digital Nations Prospectus

Now a defunct porject, the Digital Nations aimed to address major social challenges (improving education, enhancing health care, supporting community development) through the innovative design and use of new technologies. The consortium's ultimate goal was to empower people in all walks of life to invent new opportunities for themselves and their societies. The consortium focused especially on populations with the greatest needs — children and seniors, underserved communities, and developing nations.

Digital Opportunity through Technology and Communication Partnerships

"Digital Opportunity through Technology and Communication" (DOT-COM) is an alliance of three cooperative agreements to promote information and communication technology for development. DOT-COM activities cross all sectors, including education, economic growth, women in development, agriculture, trade, health, environment, and telecommunications/e-commerce policy. The three DOT-COM cooperative agreements provide expertise and services in policy, access, and learning systems. The DOT-COM program provides USAID access to fifteen grantee institutions and over 75 resource partners who work on ICT-for-development issues. Building on the strategies of the African Leland initiative and the worldwide Internet for Economic Development Initiative, DOT-COM provides USAID missions with a broad set of tools to participate in a global effort to bridge the digital divide.

e-Choupal

Traditionally, choupals are community gathering places in the village where locals meet to discuss issues and iron out their problems. The e-choupal initiative is where a choupal is equipped with a computer and Internet connectivity. This concept was pioneered by the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC).

From Digital Disconnect to Digital Empowerment

This report, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and the Leadership Conference Education Fund (LCEF), examines the capacity and use of new technologies among national civil rights organizations as well as their understanding and participation in communications and Internet public policy issues. The primary findings are: 1) while national civil and human rights groups struggle to join the digital age, they still remain far behind; and 2) more importantly, national civil and human rights organizations have not been among the organizations at the policy making table, influencing public policies that set the fundamental rules of engagement for the digital age.

Information Technologies Group (ITG)

The Information Technologies Group is a global thought leader in the area of ICTs and development. We endeavor to translate cutting edge thinking about how ICTs can improve economic development into practical projects, advice and action. The ITG works at the intersection of business, policy and technology to understand the issues at the core of global efforts to use ICTs to enhance the economic development process.

Information Technology in Regional Areas Conference

 

2002 United Nations ICT Task Force interview with Alan Levy for the Development Gateway

This is an interview from 2002 with Alan Levy from the Development Gateway. An excellent read expressing well informed opinions regarding the e-Mexico initiative, expanding to a more general discussion of ICT in development areas. The views expressed in this interview lend an important perspective to those involved with the development of ICT. Highly recommended.

IT & Economic Growth: Introduction and Conclusions

This book presents new international evidence on the impact of information technology on productivity and economic growth. The first study in which the connection between information technology and economic development is analysed quantitatively. The book is for economists and policy-makers in international organizations working on information technology and development (World Bank, UN etc); development economists; researchers and graduate students working on the impacts of IT; students interested in the "New Economy". A sample of this book can be downloaded for free at the following URL:

Can we harness the Internet as an ICT tool for the development?

This paper set out to discuss whether the Internet, as an ICT tool, could harness economic and social life development in less developed countries (LDCs)? This paper explores Internet trends and usage in promoting development in LDCs in the framework of existing conditions of these countries. The paper explores how the Internet can be used to develop aid effectiveness, improve social services in education and health, harness knowledge management, promote economic opportunity, empower civil society and make government services transparent. The paper will examine if technology alone suffices for introducing development in LDCs. The paper concludes with what impact Internet applications have on the development sector.

Digital Divide Network

The Digital Divide Network is the Internet's largest community for educators, activists, policy makers and concerned citizens working to bridge the digital divide. At DDN, you can build your own online community, publish a blog, share documents and discussions with colleagues, and post news, events and articles. You can also find the archived discussion lists of the DIGITAL DIVIDE listserv. Membership is free and open to all, so join today!

Roger Harris: ICTs for Rural Development in Asia

This is the website of Dr. Harris who is a development consultant living in Hong Kong and specializig in ICTs for rual development. Dr. Harris's website provides information about his work and provides links to ICT papers covering the evaluation of telecentres, models for success, electronic commerce for community based tourism, the relationship between ICTs and development and integrating national policy with grassroots resourcefulness. All of these papers can already be found under APDIP's resource pages.

OpenNetInitiative.Net

Explores the relationship between censorship, technology, and resistance using a technical analysis of state-imposed content filtering, blocking, and monitoring schemes. OpenNet acts as a clearinghouse, investigating and challenging state filtration and surveillance practices and sharing information on tools that can be used to circumvent censorship. Their aim is to generate a credible picture of these practices at a national, regional and corporate level, and to excavate their impact on state sovereignty, security, human rights, international law, and global governance.

Rural Connectivity: ICT Update

ICT Update is a bimonthly printed bulletin, a web magazine, and an accompanying email newsletter. Each issue of ICT Update focuses on a specific theme relevant to ICTs for agricultural and rural development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and features four commissioned articles. The printed bulletin also contains a selection of relevant links and projects and a ‘Question and Answer’ section, taken from the website.

Bridges to the Future Initiative

The Bridges to the Future Initiative (BFI) will address the Digital Divide of education and technology in emerging economies by improving literacy, basic education, and technological literacy, thereby assisting the world's poorest peoples to better determine their own social and economic future. The BFI will accomplish this mission by: 1) Bringing together public and private as well as national and international agencies and foundations. 2) Leveraging information and communication technologies. 3) Adapting to diverse contexts and diverse learners. 4) Implementing the program through national operational agencies. 5) Collaborating within and across national boundaries.

The Network Startup Resource Center

The Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC), a non-profit organization, has worked since the late 1980s to help develop and deploy networking technology in various projects throughout Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the New Independent States. Partially supported by grant award OISE-0334176 from the US National Science Foundation, the NSRC provides technicaland engineering assistance to international networking initiatives building access to the public Internet, especially to academic/research institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The NSRC is based at the University of Oregon, where we work in collaboration with the Advanced Network Technology Center (ANTC), and Network Services.

TakingITGlobal.org

TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month. TIG's highly interactive website provides a platform for expression, connection to opportunities, and support for action. TakingITGlobal works with global partners – from UN agencies, to major companies, and especially youth organizations – to build the capacity of youth for development, artistic and media expression, make education more engaging, and involve young people in global decision-making.

The Social And Economic Impact Of Networked Technologies On Rural Societies in South Asia

This book addresses many of the problems and possibilities of using net- worked technologies for developmental objectives. We lay out our views on how best to create digitally-enabled infrastructure in chapters 1 and 2. In chapter 3 we describe the social and economic impact of networked tech- nologies on rural societies and various kinds of organizations, based on our own experiences. Chapter 4 discusses statistics and recent trends within the sector, that are based on an analysis of our extensive database on this sector. Sections 5, 6, and 7 of this document describe actually existing technologies, projects and resources in South Asia that use or facilitate the use of ICTs for various developmental objectives. This listing is by no means encyclopedic, and is intended only as a guide to the unfolding landscape. Investors and entrepreneurs are invited to think of these resources as an incomplete tool- kit, or kit-of-parts, that may be assembled together for new and innovative applications, experiments, and projects. Although the majority of cases dis- cussed here are from India, they may serve as resources for the rest of South Asia, as well as other parts of the developing world.

TARAhaat Information and Marketing Services Ltd

TARAhaat Information and Marketing Services Ltd (TARAhaat), is India’s premier social enterprise, using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to deliver a broad spectrum of services and products designed for the rural and peri-urban citizens of India. TARAhaat delivers its services through a network of franchised community and business centres owned by individual entrepreneurs.

Closing the Digital Divide - An ICT Pilot Project for Rural Bangladesh

This 12 page concept paper discusses the most appropriate strategy for successful implementation of a sustainable ICT based Project for the rural Bangladesh community.

Electronic Networking for Rural Asia/Pacific Region

ENRAP’s goal is to help develop skills to access, manage and share knowledge relevant to IFAD project objectives and implementation, in collaboration with selected groups of IFAD projects and local specialists. Potential users of the knowledge sharing system include project staff and their partners who work directly with rural communities and help make the knowledge available at the grassroots level. ENRAP investigates strategies, processes, methods and technologies to support rural communication and knowledge networking, and develops recommendations for future activities. This project will foster a culture for knowledge sharing and learning amongst all the stakeholders of IFAD projects.

Microsoft Community Affairs

Microsoft Community Affairs administers all of Microsoft's community investment programs. Founded in 1983, Microsoft Community Affairs was one of the first corporate community investment programs in the high-tech industry. Today, Microsoft is the largest contributor in the high-tech industry and the third largest among all businesses in the United States. Last year, Microsoft donated more than US$61 million in cash and $273 million in software to nonprofit organizations throughout the world. Ultimately, Microsoft believes that by providing training and tools, we can partner to create social and economic opportunities that can transform communities and help people realize their potential.

TeleCommons Development Group

TeleCommons Development Group (TDG) is a unique international telecommunications networking firm specializing in results-oriented solutions for rural areas, agriculture, health, and community development.

Rural Bazar - Ideas of today for a better tomorrow (PDF, 179 kb)

This paper discusses the prevailing marketing scenario in the rural areas for products made by rural artisans and the associated process limitations, as part of domain analysis. It then analyzes the existing IT framework to overcome the stated limitations & enhance the product reach.

Flat Rate versus Per Minute Charges for Telephone Service

Network costs are fixed and are determined by the amount of capacity that is built into the network. Using assumptions regarding expected call lengths, telephone companies using a metered rate approach recover a portion of these fixed costs through the cost of each individual call. However, under a per minute billing system, Internet users pay a disproportionate share of the estimated fixed cost. These payments for local calls result in significant profits for incumbent operators, so they are often reluctant to change this pricing system.

Rural Telecenter Impact Assessments

This 57 page report entitled 'How to Get Started and Keep Going: A Guide to Community Multi-media centres' focuses on impact assessments. Impact assessments can start the process of answering if and how access to ICTs produces benefits to the individuals and communities they serve. It is clear that impact measurement of Telecentres, like most development projects, is highly contextual – and thus hard to quantify.

National Alliance for ICTs for Basic Human Needs in India

Formed in May 2004, the National Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Basic Human Needs will seek to take the ICTs-enabled knowledge revolution to all of India's 638,000 villages by August 15 2007, when the country celebrates its 60th year of independence. The Alliance sees itself as acting as a catalyst for technology innovation for rural ICT applications and connectivity. "It will work to bring the private sector and the academia together with strong support from civil society organizations for experimenting every innovation among the target communities." The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and OneWorld South Asia are jointly organising the Alliance.

News: Rural Access by Radio and Internet Helps Close the Digital Divide

This news article discribes how the Tel@Bureau system of networked telecenters and the Niger radio broadcasting system came together to bring the beinfits of the Internet's information services to rural areas. This inspiring article details the practical application of information disemination for the purposes of quality of life improvement for those living in rural areas. The project created the potential for interactive distance education, telemedicine, e-commerce, and governance in a civil society through the use of two-way communication using the key resources of radio frequencies and solar and/or wind energy systems for a collocated full-service information-and-communication-technology center.