1

Session 3Session 3Bridging Digital Divide through Bridging Digital Divide through

Innovative & Creative Digital EconomyInnovative & Creative Digital Economy

Background Paper

Ms. Sireerat BunnagProject Manager

ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacificsireerat.bunnag@itu.int

17 May 2012

The gap in access to information resources in some countries compared with those state-of-the-art networks: telephone, radio, TV, internet, satellite.

It is the difference in facilities for people to communicate, relative to location, living standard, and education which results in country’s economic and social situation.

Concept of Digital Divide

ITU: There Are Now Over 1 Billion Users Of Social Media Worldwide, Most On Mobile

Source: The 2012 “Trends In Telecommunication Reform” report

says it has 901 million monthly active users which can be interpreted that: mobile is fast becoming the main way that the vast majority of people are using its service.

Current situation

ITU notes in the last five years, the number of fixed broadband users has nearly doubled, and by early 2012 they stood at 591 million — in other words, equivalent to just over half of the number of all social media users.

penetration of broadband services in the industrialized countries only 26 percent, while in developing countries is as low as 4.8 percent

Broadband

Overall, there are still 5 billion people worldwide that have “never experienced even low-speed Internet, or have only experienced it through public or shared access,”.

There are some very much on the other side of the digital divide not using broadband, either.

How big is the gap?

Aims for mid-term review of our mandates to - connect the world, especially unconnected;

- bridge the digital divide and - to provide policy & regulatory enabling

environment for inclusive information, knowledge and towards smart society !

S1: Transparent & effective governance in digital age

S2: Safer & greener digital societyS3: Bridging digital divide through

innovative & creative digital economy

S4: Moving towards smart society

ITU Regional Development Forum 2012

ICT Applications and Services e-government, e-learning, etc.

Creative Digital Economy lack of infrastructure and illiteracy

Universal Access liberalized market

Job Creation Innovation & creation of new services

Public-Private Partnership pilot projects & potential investors

Highlight of the focus areas

What Goals Should We Work for in Addressing the Digital Divide?

• Prepare all young people with the technology literacy skills needed for today's jobs and civic life.

• Ensure that schools and communities equip individuals with the technology skills they will need to be contributing members of society.

• Adequate funding is provided for schools and communities that will allow them to offer technology resources.

• Put technology to work to address the needs of low-income and underserved communities.

9

To achieve the goals & implement the initiativestogether,

We look for enhancing partnership (PPPP)

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission

(NBTC), Thailand

Asian Development Bank

Servei de Telecomunicacions d’Andorra

European Commission

MICT I.R. Iran

Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications, Japan

Government of India

We welcome new partnerships

Telecom Regulatory Commission Sri Lanka

10ITU : http://www.itu.intITU : http://www.itu.int

ITU Asia Pacific : http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/asp/CMS/index.aspITU Asia Pacific : http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/asp/CMS/index.asp

I

Thank

U