IT Revolution and Digital Economy

1
IT Revolution and Digital Opportunities
Transform the Digital Divide into Digital
Opportunities( Part 1)
Kenji Saga Research Fellow Communication Research
Laboratory, Japan 18 February 2004, Seminar
organized by APT
2
IT Revolution and Digital Opportunities -
Transform the Digital Divide into Digital
Opportunities -

• IT and Information Society Overview
• Social Impact of Information Technology
• IT Strategy of Asia-Pacific Countries
• European Challenge e-Europe - Action Plan
• The Digital Divide Overview
• Bridging the Digital Divide G-8 Okinawa Charter
• Development of Rural Information Infrastructure
• Conclusion Way to Realize Digital Opportunities

3
IT Information Society Overview

• G-8 Okinawa Charter on Global Information
  Society
• Information and Communications Technology(IT) is
  one of the most potent forces in shaping the 21st
  century.
• IT is becoming vital engine of growth for the
  world economy.
• WSIS Declaration of Principles
• ICTs have an immense impact on virtually all
  aspects of our lives. The capacity of ICTs to
  reduce many traditional obstacles, especially
  those of time and distance, for the first time in
  history makes it possible to use the potential of
  these technologies for the benefits of millions
  of people in all corners of the world.

4
IT Revolution Expectations Concerns

• New technology will expand human power
• Key issueto overcome defects and to foster
  merits
• IT is a driving force of New Economy
• IT is bringing the Digital Divide
• IT is increasing vulnerability and security
  issues
• IT is creating Digital Opportunities
• Promotion of inter-cultural communication and
  inter-cultural understanding
• Creation of new lifestyle and new culture

5
Convergence
Telecommunications POTS, ISDN, MOBILE
Digital Network (Internet)
Broadcasting TV, Radio, CATV Web Cast
Personal Computer PDA, Game Terminals (PDApersona
l digital assistance)
6
Social and Economic Impact of ICT
Convergence, Multi-media E-Commerce

• Convergence
• Convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting
  and computer
• Multi-media
• Integration of text, image, voice, etc.
• Creation of new culture in cyberspace
• E-Commerce
• Revolutionizing commerce activity

7
Electronic CommerceEC

• Diversification of the market B to B, B to C,
  etc.
• Large market B to B, Fast expanding B to C
• Reformation of the market Reduction of trade
  cost
• Creation of consumer driven market structure
• Provision of price comparison by digital agent
• Reverse auction by consumer
• New products and new markets
• Many problems to be solved
• Tax, consumer protection, security, privacy, etc.

8
What is IT Industry?

• 1. Hardware industry
• (Computers and related equipments, etc.)
• 2. Communications equipment industry
• (Telecommunications and AV equipments, etc.)
• 3. Software services industry
• (Computer programming services, etc.)
• 4. Communications services industry
• (Internet, telephone, TV broadcasting, etc.)

9
Charter, Declaration and Agreement
byInternational Organizations in the year 2000

• the Report of the United Nations High-level
  Panel of
• Experts (May)
• b) the Action Plan of the World Economic Forum
  (July)
• c) the Okinawa IT Charter and establishment of
  Dot Force
• by G8 Okinawa Summit (July)
• d) Learning to Bridge the Digital Divide by
  OECD (August)
• e) Chairman's Statement of the Third ASEM Meeting
  (October)
• f) the Tokyo Declaration and Action Plan adopted
  at
• the Asia-Pacific Summit on Information
  Society
• organized by the APT (November)
• g) the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement signed by
• the ASEAN Leaders (November)

10
Declarations, Strategies and Action Plans
byInternational Organizations since 2001

• 2001
• Genova Plan of Action by G8 Genova Summit
• e-APEC Strategy
• 2002Pacific Islands ICT Policy and Strategic Plan
• e-Europe 2005 Action Plan
• 2003
• WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society)
  Declaration of Principle and Plan of Action

11
NII Projects in Asia Pacific Region in 1990s
12
National IT Strategies in Asia Pacific Region
13
Comparison of each National IT Strategy
14
eEurope 2005 An information society for all

• By 2005, Europe should have
• Modern online public services
• e-Government
• e-Learning services
• e-Health services
• A dynamic e-Business environment
• Widespread availability of broadband access at
  competitive price
• A secure information infrastructure

15
Case Study National ICT Strategy in Indonesia
A p p l i c a t i o n s
International and Regional ICT Agreements
E-Government
ICT Industry Promotion
E-Commerce
Human Capacity Building
Infrastructure
16
Infrastructure Internet Backbone and IX
IPv6
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Digital Divide Factors

• Disparity between
• Developed country and developing country
• Urban area and rural/remote area
• Differences caused by
• Income
• Education and job training
• Race
• Gender
• Age
• Disabilities

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Digital Divide Facts among races in the United
StatesSource USDOC Falling Through the NET
Defining the Digital Divide

• Penetration rate ()

19
Internet Population by Regions
20

• How Many Online?
• The art of estimating how many are online
  throughout the world is an inexact one at best.
  Surveys abound, using all sorts of measurement
  parameters. However, from observing many of the
  published surveys over the last two years, here
  is an "educated guess" as to how many are online
  worldwide as of September 2002. And the number is
  605.60 million.
• World Total 605.60 million
• Africa 6.31 million
• Asia/Pacific 187.24 million
• Europe 190.91 million
• Middle East 5.12 million
• Canada USA182.67 million
• Latin America 33.35 million
• Source Various Methodology Compiled by Nua
  Internet Surveys
• http//www.nua.com/surveys/

21
The Digital Divide World Trends

• World Internet subscribers 605.60 million
  (September 2002)
• Top 20 of countries by income have 90 of
  Internet users
• 58 of Canadians and Americans have Internet
  access (about 30 of world Internet users)
• About 2 of Africans have Internet access
• Internet population in Asia-Pacific follows after
  Europe, but growth rate is the highest

22
Bridging the Digital Divide 1Okinawa Charter on
Global Information Society

• Internet Access for All
• Universal provision of Internet access at an
  affordable rate
• Development of information infrastructure to
  rural/remote areas world wide
• Internet access to aged and disabled people
• Facilitation of RD for barrier-free facilities
• Promotion of school, SMEs and SOHO online
• Provision of educational opportunities for
  non-educated people

23
Japans Policy for Assistance to Bridge the
Digital Divide
Japan has been seeking the solution to the global
digital divide focusing on 4 fields
-the formulation of ICT policy and institution
building, -the human resources development,
-the ICT infrastructure building, and -the
promotion of ICT utilization in implementing
development assistance
Japan has issued Asia Broadband Program
24
Asia Broadband ProgramNew Initiative by
Government of Japan

• Promotion of broadband Infrastructure in Asia
• Facilitation of joint RD for the introduction of
  new technology (IPv6 and Internet Satellite)
• Promotion of use of broadband
• E-Government
• E-Learning
• E-Health and other tele-applications
• Development of local language contents
• Promotion of human capacity building

25
Bridging the Digital Divide 2 WSIS
Declaration of Principles

• ICTs should be regarded as tools and not as an
  end in themselves.
• The benefits of the IT Revolution are today
  unevenly distributed between the developed and
  developing countries and within societies.
• We are fully committed to turning this digital
  divide into a digital opportunity for all,
  particularly for those who risk being left behind
  and being further marginalized.

26
Conclusion

• Anyone, anywhere should be enabled to access IT
• Digital opportunities should be ensured to all
  people - Bridging the Digital Divide -
• Education of people how to use IT
• Development of user-friendly and barrier-free
  technologies for disabled and elder persons
• Development of Information Infrastructure
  throughout the world
• New initiative of international cooperation
  should be encouraged Combination of ODA with NGO
• Benefits of IT for all!

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Now is the time to implement!Benefits of ICT
for all!End of Part I
Thank you.