using broadband to transform the world need for joint efforts itu forum kigali, 9-11 may 2012 &...
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USING BROADBAND TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD
NEED FOR JOINT EFFORTS
ITU FORUM KIGALI, 9-11 May 2012
&Dr. Speranza Ndege
Director, Open, Distance & e-Learning, Kenyatta University
Commissioner, Broadband Commission for Digital
Development
In year 2000, 189 countries came together to discuss global challenges facing us.
They came up with 8 Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Broadband Commission Broadband Commission for Digital Developmentfor Digital Development
In May 2010, ITU and UNESCO, got concerned about the time lines of implementing MDGs.
5 years only to 2015.
Will all the countries have delivered on their promises?
This led to the formation of Broadband commission for Digital Development.
Sharing a Common VisionSharing a Common VisionCommission for Digital Development Commission for Digital Development
wishes to share a VISION that it is wishes to share a VISION that it is convinced can give solutions to our convinced can give solutions to our challenges, namely:challenges, namely:
►poverty poverty ►health, educationhealth, education► gender equalitygender equality►climate change and climate change and ►demographic shifts in youth and ageing demographic shifts in youth and ageing
populations. populations. Etc.Etc.
How to speed MDG How to speed MDG RealizationRealization
Broadband is the answer!Broadband is the answer!Embrace a common leadership vision that Embrace a common leadership vision that
has profound implications for the has profound implications for the accelerated achievement of the millennium accelerated achievement of the millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the Development Goals (MDGs) by the internationally-agreed deadline of 2015internationally-agreed deadline of 2015
““Broadband Inclusion for All”Broadband Inclusion for All”
New York, September 19, 2010
That:That:►models of the mobile and internet models of the mobile and internet
revolutions can transform global revolutions can transform global development. development.
► We need to forge a common vision and We need to forge a common vision and understanding of the needs and understanding of the needs and requirements of society .requirements of society .
Commission’s Conviction:
Commission’s ConvictionCommission’s Conviction►governments have the opportunity to unleash the governments have the opportunity to unleash the
creativity and inventiveness of their citizenscreativity and inventiveness of their citizens
►broadband is a means to an end, and not an end in itselfbroadband is a means to an end, and not an end in itself► ICTs and broadband can help generate jobsICTs and broadband can help generate jobs
►that collaborations and forging strong partnerships can that collaborations and forging strong partnerships can bring about growth, productivity and, ultimately, long-bring about growth, productivity and, ultimately, long-term economic competitivenessterm economic competitiveness
►
►That broadband inclusion for all will That broadband inclusion for all will
represent a momentous economic and represent a momentous economic and social change commensurate with the social change commensurate with the very problems that the MDGs aim to very problems that the MDGs aim to solve.solve.
►We need to use Broadband to address We need to use Broadband to address the rising healthcare costs, delivering the rising healthcare costs, delivering digital education for all (in Kenya we digital education for all (in Kenya we have what we call digital villages) have what we call digital villages)
Commission’s Conviction
►That getting the broadband policy and That getting the broadband policy and investment mix right requires coherent investment mix right requires coherent and concerted: and concerted:
Political will Political will Leadership from the top Leadership from the top Grassroots support Grassroots support
Commission’s Conviction
What Broadband can doWhat Broadband can do
►allows flow of informationallows flow of information
►provides the ability to communicateprovides the ability to communicate
►provides a platform for access and provides a platform for access and
exchange of online information and exchange of online information and knowledge in real-timeknowledge in real-time..
► it has the potential to address many it has the potential to address many sustainability challenges hence - sustainability challenges hence - Broadband is uniqueBroadband is unique
► increasing socio-economic increasing socio-economic development and quality of lifedevelopment and quality of life
►facilitates transformative change facilitates transformative change (transportation, education, agriculture, (transportation, education, agriculture, health etc)health etc)
What Broadband can do
YES WE CAN YES WE CAN With the good will and support of With the good will and support of
world leaders, policy-makers, world leaders, policy-makers, industry leaders, participants and industry leaders, participants and citizens we can:citizens we can:
► expanding access to broadband expanding access to broadband infrastructureinfrastructure
► build broadband-enabled build broadband-enabled applications and services to allapplications and services to all
- must be a top policy priority for - must be a top policy priority for all countriesall countries..
► Invest sufficiently in broadband so that Invest sufficiently in broadband so that developing countries are not excluded developing countries are not excluded from economic and social growthfrom economic and social growth
►empower people to gain a better empower people to gain a better understanding of the challenges they understanding of the challenges they faceface
►create forums that will educate people so create forums that will educate people so that they are able to make informed that they are able to make informed choices and decisionschoices and decisions
YES WE CAN
►create an interacting society, exposing create an interacting society, exposing them to great opportunities eg. better them to great opportunities eg. better farming methodsfarming methods
►connect people enabling them to form connect people enabling them to form social networkssocial networks
YES WE CAN
Broadband ChallengeBroadband ChallengeWe called on global leaders to:We called on global leaders to:► make broadband policy universalmake broadband policy universal
►develop policies to expand access to health develop policies to expand access to health and education through broadbandand education through broadband
► ensure that at least half the developing ensure that at least half the developing world’s population and 40% of households in world’s population and 40% of households in developing countries are using broadband developing countries are using broadband Internet by 2015. Internet by 2015.
► Private sector challenged to Private sector challenged to contribute to this goal by contribute to this goal by developing innovative business developing innovative business models to realize this vision. models to realize this vision.
Broadband Challenge
Call for Action Call for Action Commission urging the global community to: Commission urging the global community to: ►acknowledge the potential of broadband for acknowledge the potential of broadband for
progress and sustainable development progress and sustainable development ►consider consider broadband inclusion for allbroadband inclusion for all in the in the
formulation of the sustainable development goals formulation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)(SDGs)
►work together to eradicate poverty and move the work together to eradicate poverty and move the sustainable development agendasustainable development agenda
►acknowledge the media for using broadband to acknowledge the media for using broadband to keep the public informed on sustainable keep the public informed on sustainable developmentsdevelopments
1. No or poor ICT infrastructure
2. Internet bandwidth is still expensive
3. Fiber optic cable not yet in the rural areas - ISPs
4. No rural electrification
5. We cant afford Broadband - expensive
6. Lack of capacity building to develop local content
7. Rampant illiteracy in working with computers and other technologies
8. Smart phones too expensive
9. Copyright issues – e-content
Lets Support the Commission’s Vision. Don’t get discouraged by what Africa can’t do or can’t afford:
Conclusion
