The Internet has been remarkably successful in developing greater opportunities for
communication access - and economic growth and social development - for the first
billion users. The majority of the next several billion users will be mainly from
developing countries and will connect to the Internet principally via wireless networks.
But there are substantial discrepancies in access to ICTs between developed and developing
countries and also within countries, depending on factors such as gender, rural coverage,
skills and educational levels. This book examines how the market for internet traffic
exchange has evolved and explores the coherence of policies pursued by developed and
developing countries. It notes the increasing innovation occurring in a number of
developing countries with competitive markets and discusses how liberalisation has
helped to expand of access networks and make ICT services increasingly affordable
and available to the poor. The report also highlights the employment, micro-entrepreneurial
and social development opportunities which have emerged as access levels have risen
among low-income users. The study notes that gateway service monopolies - still in
70 countries - raise the prices for accessing international capacity and reduce the
affordability of Internet access to business and end users.
Cover and Table of Contents |
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Executive Summary |
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Policy Coherence for a Globally Accessible Internet |
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The Importance of Liberalisation |
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Providing Internet-Based Opportunities to Low-Income Mass Markets |
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Growth in Access and Convergence toward the Internet |
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Global Connectivity |
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Conclusion |
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Bibliography |
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