'No regrets' for Australian broadband plan

The World Bank's lead ICT policy specialist has cautioned against pulling back on infrastructure spending like Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN), reports Computerworld.

World Bank's lead ICT policy specialist Dr Tim Kelly says it would be prudent economic policy to forge ahead with expensive infrastructure spending like that of Australia's broadband plan. Kelly also reiterated the organisation's view that broadband investment is a "no regrets" policy.

The federal government first announced that the NBN Company would be established to build and operate a new, wholesale-only, open access, high-speed broadband network in April 2009, partly to help stimulate the economy as the rest of the world reeled from the global financial crisis.

The World Bank board has approved financing of $44.7 million from the International Development Association to Ghana as additional funding for the ongoing eGhana Project, states TMCnet.

The original eGhana project of $40 million was approved in 2006 to support the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development Programme.

The overall objective of the eGhana Project is to assist the Ghana government to generate growth and employment by leveraging ICT for growth and development, support ICT businesses and services.

A majority of Singapore citizens cite unresponsive public officials as a major barrier to engaging with online public services, says ZDNet.

Conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Siemens' global Centre of Competence, the survey found 52% of public officials cite the lack of proper technology as a barrier, but almost as many also pointed to citizen mindset against online transactions as a major barrier to e-government initiatives.

According to the survey, 77% of businesses claim an improved broadband network would have significant impact on city competitiveness, making it the most important ICT technology to attract private sector investment.