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M2 PRESSWIRE-4 December 2003-ITU: ITU World Telecommunication Development Report 2003 measures access to the information society; Monitors impact of ICTs on global development goals; 23 e- indicators included to overcome the digital and statistical divide (C)1994-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Geneva - A lack of timely and comparable data on access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a major barrier to understanding the depth and causes of the digital divide or a gap in ICT access within and between richer and poorer nations. This is especially relevant given that global leaders are gathering next week for the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to boost ICT access in underserved economies and forge ways so that powerful ICT tools can serve higher socio-economic goals.
"A close link exists between the digital and statistical divide", says Michael Minges, Head of the Market, Economics and Finance Unit at ITU and lead author of the report. Sixty per cent of all Internet user surveys are carried out in the world's wealthiest economies, for example, while in the 59 poorest economies, not a single Internet user survey has been conducted. Countries that understand their ICT situation have also identified their strengths and weaknesses and adopted appropriate policies. In the Republic of Korea, for example, detailed analysis of computer and Internet use match the country's rapid transformation into an information society.
To help governments overcome this data divide, the newly- released World Telecommunication Development Report (WTDR) offers the world's first comprehensive toolkit on how to measure access to ICTs.
Useful examples that can guide governments seeking ways to harness ICTs tool for development are highlighted in the report, which was compiled by the International Telecommunication Union. It also shows how ICTs can foster achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, or goals set by heads of state in 2000 to alleviate poverty, disease, hunger and other pressing social problems.
The report includes 23 e-ITU indicators based on findings from analyses, surveys and existing data (Table 1).
This basic statistics list provides a global norm for compiling comparable data to track the emerging global information society.
The report also highlights national digital divides that exist within businesses, schools and governments around the world. In Chile, 93 per cent...