Abstract: 'At the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G8) Summit in Okinawa, Japan (July, 2000), the Heads of State acknowledged that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 'is one of the most potent forces in shaping the twenty-first century'. However, the ever-widening gap between the world's information 'haves' and 'have-nots' - the 'digital divide' - is hindering development and growth.

To address the problem, the G8 generated the Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Soci more...

Abstract: 'This article reviews the progress towards universal access to telephony and other information projects in South Africa between 1996, when the last Telecommunications Act was passed, and 2000. It draws on the results of the Telecentre 2000 study and the Community ICT research project.

The Telecentre programme of the Universal Service Agency (USA) is examined in detail, with statistics on the progress of their 65 telecentres being provided. This programme is critiqued, focusing both more...

The first 30 parents just graduated from the Medellin Digital Open Classroom course at the Santa Teresa School. One teacher and one parent, assisted by students from the school were in charge of teaching the group the basic use of the computers and their different tools.
The course was a big success and several people offered their service to teach advanced courses, for free, during the next semester. 300 parents are already on the waiting list to enter the course and learn how to use the com more...

The European Union’s competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, delivered an unusually blunt rebuke to Microsoft on Tuesday by recommending that businesses and governments use software based on open standards.
Ms. Kroes has fought bitterly with Microsoft over the last four years, accusing the company of defying her orders and fining it nearly 1.7 billion euros, or $2.7 billion, on the grounds of violating European competition rules. But her comments were the strongest recommendation yet by Ms. K more...

A global legal battle between the two largest makers of computer processors took an abrupt turn this week when the Federal Trade Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation of the Intel Corporation.

For years, Advanced Micro Devices, a smaller rival of Intel, has been scouring the world in search of regulators in Europe, Asia and the United States who would agree to prosecute Intel for what A.M.D. maintains are anticompetitive pricing practices.

The worldwide campaign — over a m more...

The executive summary introduces topical sections related to networked readiness, including innovation, e-skills, unified communications and regulation in emerging telecoms markets

Most people misunderstand the nature of the "Digital Divide" between rich and poor nations in adoption of information and communications technologies (ICTs). There are many kinds of ICTs, and there are very different adoption rates among different types. The demand for low cost ICT's such as personal computers, Internet connections, and telephone connections, has been largely met in rich countries, and as poor countries more nearly meet their demands for these devices and services they appear to more...

How should countries harness the ongoing ICT revolution to create new development strategies and accelerate the development process? The two volumes present a concrete case study of how one country is bridging the gap between vision and actionable programs. E-Sri Lanka is an integrated, client-driven program and the first of its kind to be funded by the World Bank. It is about investing in the necessary policies, institutions, capabilities, infrastructures, and information technology applicatio more...

In January 2004, leading IT and Telecoms companies and organizations launched the IT Access for Everyone Initiative (ITAFE) during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting. Its objectives were:
1. to develop a global benchmarking study focused on Digital Inclusion globally to learn from the successes and failures of prior efforts in this area.
2. to develop a strategic framework and methodology that utilizes a market based “ecosystem” approach to accelerate digital inclusion efforts in more...

The e-Bario Knowledge Fair, incorporating the UNDP Workshop on
E-Inclusion and Media for Indigenous Peoples, attracted more than 100 participants from 15 countries. Arising from the joint proceedings, the delegates formulated the e-Bario Vision for Indigenous Peoples which was presented to the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference (GK3) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 12 December 2007.

THE E-BARIO VISION FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND ICTS

"We welcome the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous P more...