In the 21st century, affordable, ubiquitous broadband networks will be as critical to social and economic prosperity as networks like transport, water and power.
This is according to Hamadoun Tour'e, secretary-general of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), speaking at the unveiling of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum in Geneva, yesterday.
He advised governments to view broadband networks as basic national infrastructure. “Not only does broadband deliver benefits across every sector of society, but it also helps promote social and economic development, and will be key in helping the UN to get the Millennium Development Goals back on track.”
The unveiling happened at the opening of the 2010 WSIS Forum, in partnership with the ITU and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
This new commission, comprising of leaders from across a wide range of technology, business and social sectors, will define strategies for accelerating broadband roll-out worldwide. It will also examine applications that could see broadband networks improve the delivery of a range of social services, from healthcare to education, environmental management, and safety.
It is co-chaired by Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Carlos Slim H'elu, honorary lifetime chairman of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Carso. Tour'e and Unesco director-general Irina Bokova will serve as joint vice-chairs.
This will require new frameworks for global cooperation in areas of investment, research and technology, he added. “The Broadband Commission for Digital Development will work to realise this potential.”
According to Hel'u, broadband is the nervous system of today's new civilisation, so broadband access is a top priority for our technological society. “It is very important that broadband be a high-quality universal service at a low cost,” he added.
Hel'u also stressed that due to its health, education and knowledge benefits, broadband development should be strongly fostered by governments and regulatory agencies.
“Broadband is not a gap, but a bridge between developed and developing countries, providing access to all of the services of modern society for the wellbeing of the population in general,” he added.
Broadband power
Abdul Waheed Khan, Unesco assistant director-general for communication and information, underlined the power of broadband to create the 'knowledge societies' that will spur human and economic development. “The latest ICTs have created new opportunities for the creation, preservation, dissemination and use of information,” he said.
Khan also explained that Unesco aims to create inclusive knowledge societies in which people transform information into knowledge and understanding. This will help empower them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to social and economic development, he noted.
“Universal access to broadband-enabled applications will be vital for achieving this goal, by delivering quality education, sharing of scientific knowledge, enhancing social cohesion, and promoting cultural diversity,” said Khan.
Both Tour'e and Khan called on leaders from government, the private sector and civil society to work with ITU and Unesco to support the Broadband Commission for Digital Development and to develop and allocate resources for the necessary strategies and policies for implementation.
Under its terms of reference, the commission will meet in Geneva mid-2010, and deliver its findings to the UN secretary-general in September, immediately before the UN summit in New York to review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
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