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Access and Infrastructure
This page contains resources on the barriers to universal access to ICTs including physical, economic, social, cultural and educational challenges, and intiatives developed to overcome them.
The resources focus on ‘last mile’ initiatives, increasing access and capacity building at a local level, and addressing issues such as culture, gender equity, social equity, sustainable community development and benefits to rural areas.
Building a Mobile Money Distribution Network in Papua New Guinea
This report outlines how a mobile money system might develop in Papua New Guinea, what existing networks it might use for 'cash in' and 'cash out' services, and how mobile money might help individuals, companies and government alike to lower cost, increase security, and reduce corruption linked to the movement of money.
Background Paper for Identifying the Best Practice of ICT implementations in Asia and the Pacific
This paper updates the status of ICT initiatives and implementations that aim to bridge the digital divide. It assesses how many people, what kind of groups of people and which regions have been left out from accessing ICT, and identifies the main problems of further expanding ICT access.
The Promise of Ubiquity: Mobile as Media Platform in the Global South
The publication examines the current and future reach of the mobile in the developing world and the factors driving it; explores how the landscape looks from different vantage points through a series of interviews with leaders in the mobile field; and draws some general conclusions out of individual experiences and seeks points of departure into the mobile space for different kinds of media, broadcast and print. It also include summaries of mobile market conditions in 20 countries across the developing world.
Deploying a Rural Wireless Telemedicine System: Experiences in Sustainability
A novel ICT project in rural India uses long-distance Wi-Fi networking to enable high-quality videoconferencing between eye hospitals and remote village clinics. The project highlights the importance of sustainability as a first-class goal for systems research.
Measuring Information and Communication Technology Availability in Villages and Rural Areas
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.
ICT Infrastructure in Emerging Asia: Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks
This book brings together scholars, practitioners, former regulators, and policy makers to address the problem of expanding information and communications technology (ICT) connectivity in emerging Asia. It centrally engages the widespread claim that technology by itself — independent of policy and regulatory reform — can improve access to ICTs. In doing so, it shows that while complex workarounds are possible, they are significantly less effective than the appropriate policy and regulatory reforms. It gleans lessons from five Asian countries — Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — based on their experiences with expanding ICT connectivity.
Enhancing Pacific Connectivity: The Current Situation, Opportunities for Progress
Compiling new socio-economic and connectivity indicators, the study finds most Pacific states delivering on health care and education, with many people noting that socio-economic opportunities provided by affordable and effective communications may now be a high priority. The study describes opportunities for improved cable and satellite connectivity, and for the use of terrestrial wireless as well as wired and satellite connectivity within Pacific states. The study suggests that sufficient capital is available for connectivity, if policies, infrastructure and services lead to effective, affordable, and popular systems. Indeed, such benefits are reaching several small island states. However, a regionally cooperative approach may help Pacific states to collectively decide and develop programmes toward that success. The study takes advantage of numerous studies to produce a new synthesis and suggestions for steps forward.
Towards Universal Internet Access in the Philippines
The Philippine government has recognized the importance of providing universal Internet access and, through various international instruments and national policy documents, has committed to provide community-based Internet access by 2010. This paper provides a review of existing policies and strategies, as well as good global practice on universal access. To ensure this paper responds truly to the needs of the country, a multi-stakeholder Study Group was organized to review and comment on the paper.
FOSS: Network Infrastructure and Security
This e-primer introduces readers to the network concepts and architectures, and the major networking functions with free/open source software (FOSS). It also discusses network security functions with FOSS, including security best practices and to-do's. The e-primer ends with useful tips on network planning, design and development.
Accessibility of New Zealand Government Websites
Two research projects designed to indicate the accessibility of government websites were commissioned by the Office for Disability Issues in 2005 and 2006. AccEase Ltd conducted the research, using a methology that emphased disabled people using websites and reporting on their experiences. The results from this research informed reporting on implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and assisted the State Services Commission monitor implementation of the New Zealand government Web Guidelines and Web Standards.
Digital Security & Privacy for Human Rights Defenders
This document addresses the different risks faced in digital security. In particular, it focuses on the privacy and security issues faced by human rights defenders and how they can deal with them. It also discusses ways of preventing the erosion of universally guaranteed freedoms.
A Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Aceh Development
This paper looks at the ICT infrastructure in Aceh.
Bhutan's Policy Guideline on Information Sharing
Through this policy guildeine on information sharing, Bhutan aims to create a culture of open and free sharing of information. The guideline looks at information sharing between and among public agencies; between public agencies and citizens; and among citizens. It looks at the types of information to be shared and provides an information sharing mechanism. This guideline has been approved vide Executive Order dated 30 August 2006 which also mandates the Ministry of Information and Communications to take a lead role in coordination, monitoring and backstopping of ministries and agencies on information sharing.
Constructing the Pillars of a Knowledge Society: The Challenge of Providing Access to ICTs in Rural Mongolia
The paper looks at the challenges in providing access to ICTs in the vast rural areas of Mongolia where more than half the population still follows a nomadic herding lifestyle. The paper concludes that despite a positive policy environment for developing ICTs and limited success in extending Internet connectivity into the rural towns, the prospect of integrating these services into the social and business practices of rural communities remains a long way off. Future research needs to go beyond economic and technological factors and focus on the social and cultural implications of incorporating ICTs into traditional societies.
Collection of cases of financing ICT for development in Asia and the Pacific
This publication provides information on different financing mechanisms for ICT projects in rural and urban areas. It considers cases from China, India, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand.
(in Korean)