World Information Society Reports

• Series launched in 2006– Progress in bridging the digital divide– Monitoring WSIS implementation

• Prepared by the Digital Opportunity Platform– A multi-stakeholder partnership including ITU,

UNCTAD, KADO, MIC Korea, LBS, LIRNEAsia.

• 2nd edition published on May 16 2007– 8 Chapters, Statistical Annex, Maps etc: 220pp– Full text online at www.itu.int/wisr

The digital divide by income group

Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform.

Shrinking digital divide for Internet

Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform.

But new gaps are emerging …

• Broadband prices are 10x higher in low-income than high- income economies– In 9 low-income

countries, prices per 100 kbit/s are above USD500 per month

– In Japan and Korea, prices are below USD0.10 per month

– 33 African economies do not have broadband

Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform.

Digital Opportunity, 2005-06

The Digital Opportunity Index (DOI) measures each economy’s level of ICT development. It is a composite index of 11 separate indicators, ranging between 0 and 1. DOI is one of two indices endorsed by WSIS.

Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform.

Top performers

Top 10, 2006 DOI Score

1. Korea (Rep.) 0.80

2. Japan 0.77

3. Denmark 0.76

4. Iceland 0.74

5. Singapore 0.72

6. Netherlands 0.71

7. Taiwan-China 0.71

8. Hong-Kong-China 0.70

9. Sweden 0.70

10. UK 0.69

Gainers, 2004-06 Change in ranks

1. Morocco +36

2. Russian Fed. +27

3. Senegal +22

4. Ghana +19

5. Antigua & Barbuda +18

6. Gabon +18

7. Belize +16

8. Bhutan +15

9. Côte d’Ivoire +13

10. Romania +13

Note: Based on an analysis of 181 economies.Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform.

Threats in cyberspace

• Inherited architecture of the Internet was not designed to optimize security

• Constant evolution in protocols and algorithms

• Introduction of Next-GenerationNetworks (NGN)

• Convergence among ICT services and networks• Network effects – risks far greater• Possibility of anonymity on the Internet• Internationalization requires cross-border

cooperation

Conclusions

• The digital divide is shrinking, butnew gaps in quality are emerging:– Availability of newest services– Affordability of broadband

• Many countries are experiencingmuch higher levels of ICT growth– Successful strategies based on

multi-stakeholder partnerships

• New risks threaten cyberspace – Spam, viruses, phishing, identity theft etc

• Full text online at: www.itu.int/wisr

Thank you very much

Tim.kelly@itu.int

Mongi.Hamdi@unctad.org

www.itu.int/wisr

www.unctad.org/wisr