The growth and development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has led to their wide diffusion and application, thus increasing their economic and social impact. The OECD undertakes a wide range of activities aimed at improving our understanding of how ICTs contribute to sustainable economic growth and social well-being and their role in the shift toward knowledge-based societies.

What's new

Innovation in the Software Sector

30-Nov-2009

The software sector is innovative, but also a vital element in much of the innovation in other sectors according to this new OECD publication. Human capital is a critical factor for promotion of innovation in the software sector, and efforts to promote education and training in support of software innovation may yield benefits beyond the bounds of the sector. The book puts a spotlight on innovation across the software universe, setting out key issues and highlighting policy perspectives.

Ask your question about e-commerce!

25-Nov-2009

Make your voice heard at the OECD conference on empowering e-consumers, to be held on 8-10 December in Washington, DC. As of today and throughout the conference, the public is invited to submit questions to the panellists. What do you think about e-commerce? Do you feel safe when making purchases online? Have you experienced any obstacles when buying from foreign countries? What are your questions or ideas? Ask the experts and express your opinion about e-commerce.

Employment in the ICT sector continues dropping

17-Nov-2009

Employment is continuing to drop in the information and communications technology (ICT) goods sector and remaining flat in most ICT services, according to a new OECD report.

“Green ICT” side-event at UN Climate Change talks in Barcelona

on 05-Nov-2009

Innovation in ICTs is key to achieving ambitious CO2 emissions reductions. At the UN Climate Change talks in Barcelona - four weeks ahead of COP15 - the OECD, ITU, GeSI and international partners discussed how ICTs can help combat global warming.

The impact of the crisis on ICT and ICT-related employment

28-Oct-2009

This paper provides an overview of short-term and long-term developments in ICT employment trends. Preliminary analysis of available indicators shows that employment is dropping in the ICT sector - notably in ICT goods sectors and mostly remaining flat in ICT services. The paper also highlights some niche ICT activities where ICT employment is increasing despite the crisis.

Workshop on Policy Coherence in the Application of Information and Communication Technologies for Development

from 10-Sep-2009 to 11-Sep-2009

Information communication technologies (ICTs) are crucial to reducing poverty, improving access to health and education services and creating new sources of income and employment for the poor. But there are substantial discrepancies in access to ICTs between, but also within, countries, depending on key factors such as gender, rural coverage, skills and educational levels. This workshop, organised jointly by the World Bank/infoDev and the OECD, aimed to share best practices in coherent approaches to meeting development objectives laid out by Ministers.

Mobile phone calls lowest in Finland, Netherlands and Sweden, says OECD report

11-Aug-2009

Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden have the lowest prices for mobile phone calls among OECD countries, according to the latest OECD Communications Outlook. The highest were found in Canada, Spain and the United States.

Improving measurement of links between ICT and environmental outcomes

31-Jul-2009

This report explores available statistics and data from official statistical sources and from product life cycle studies, suggests a conceptual framework for the statistical field “ICT and the environment” and makes recommendations on how to improve statistical collection.

ICT industry poised to rebound, says new OECD report

28-Jul-2009

Is the ICT industry recovering?   Global production and trade of information and communications technology goods turned up sharply in May and June – and ICTs may be among the first of crisis-stricken industries to start growing again, according to a new OECD report. After plunging 30-40% earlier this year, Asian production is now showing month-to-month improvement and China is up nearly 3%
year-on-year.

Piracy of Digital Content

28-Jul-2009

This new book covers the piracy of content, such as music, films and software that does not involve the use of physical media; in other words essentially piracy over the Internet. The study highlights the unique market characteristics of digital piracy where large number of suppliers are willing to provide pirated content at virtually zero price. This poses new and difficult challenges to copyright owners and policy makers.

Mobile broadband: Pricing and services

08-Jul-2009

Mobile broadband growth is significant in markets where data are available. Although data is not yet easily available, this paper provides an overview of prices, speeds and data caps of mobile broadband services.

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Broadband Statistics

Now updated with data through December 2008

OECD Broadband Portal

Editor's Choice

The most recent comparable data on communication sector performance.

OECD Communications Outlook 2009