Self-sustaining growth of broadband access and other basic connectivity channels must be achieved in unconnected regions.
This is according to the CEO of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who says this can only be accomplished through continuous and fruitful collaboration between a variety of public and private sector partners.
“It also involves sharing best practices among ICT stakeholders across continents to ensure successful and speedy implementation of ICT strategies.”
Stressing on the need to connect rural communities, he says provision of network access to rural communities is one of the recommendations of the World Summit on the Information Society and supports the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) defined by the UN.
Spio-Garbrah says, among other challenges, ICT roll out in rural areas can entail considerable investment. “However, in the developing countries, these challenges can be even more daunting,” he adds.
There are many constraints such as unreliable power, poor road networks, low broadband capacity, illiteracy, lower incomes, and diverse socio-political dynamics, he says.
“As a result, some have questioned the financial merits of investing in rural ICTs, and whether rural communities provide the necessary return on investment.”
According to the CTO, access to information is increasingly being seen as a basic human right, alongside access to potable water, food, basic healthcare and primary education.
There is ample evidence to prove how ICT is being leveraged around the world to drive socio-economic growth, it says.
“Most notably, ICT access helps alleviate poverty, improves access to public services, improves good governance and empowers citizens especially in rural areas,” it adds.
Progressive initiatives
According to the organisation, the conference - which attracted ICT ministers and stakeholders in the ICT sector - highlighted the latest technological solutions, innovative business models, and the public-private-peoples' partnerships needed for improved rural connectivity.
“Participants examined the growing use of mobile phones as platforms to deliver a growing range of mobile applications, content and services to rural dwellers,” it says.
The conference covered topics on key issues concerning the strategies for improving governance and public services delivery through ICTs.
“Other issues discussed include developing national goals and strategies for providing connectivity, applications and content in rural areas, operators' strategies in improving rural dwellers' access to services, the development of effective distribution networks for rural areas and its challenges, tried and tested approaches to pricing and profitability, and the business case and strategies for rural broadband access,” CTO says.
Wireless
The other topics that were discussed and debated by participants are the benefits of 3G and broadband wireless availability in the rural communities, the importance of WiMax, m-Content developments, the impact of cultural gaps and capacity-building challenges for both voice and non-voice operations, and the benefits and perceived risks of running rural business process outsourcing.
According to the CTO, this conference was in line with the Commonwealth African Rural Connectivity Initiative, which aims to improve African rural communities' access to ICT and education, health, jobs and agricultural information by facilitating sustainable and innovative solutions for ICT access.
The organisation's mission is to reduce global poverty through the more efficient utilisation of ICTs, and its development agenda reflects the priorities set in the MDGs.
The organisation says it has been providing the international community with effective means to bridge the digital divide and achieve social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries' unique knowledge-sharing programmes in the use of ICT.
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