Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Internet

Remarks at the Briefing to Permanent Missions of the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:45:00 +0000

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

13 September 2019
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,

I would like to welcome you to this briefing for the Permanent Missions of the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

I have the pleasure of convening this event together with Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, who is the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Digital Cooperation and the Preparations for the Seventy-Fifth 51�Թ� Anniversary.

Today’s briefing will focus on the report of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. Mr. Drummond will also provide a brief update on the on-going preparations for the 75th UN Anniversary.

We welcome this opportunity to support the Secretary-General’s Initiatives.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Digital technology is a topic that is of enormous significance to all countries. It is perhaps even more important to the groups of countries that are present in this room, given their individual vulnerabilities, that make it challenging for them to be globally competitive.

There are concerns about the impact of emerging technologies on employment, especially for low-skilled workers, as well as competitiveness, which could make attraction of investment to LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS even more difficult. However, there is also the expectation that these groups of countries can benefit through inter alia; better connectivity, more efficient delivery of basic services, disaster management and innovation.

The reality of the matter is that while developed countries and countries with more advanced technologies are currently grappling with the opportunities and challenges associated with frontier technologies, there is very little conversation over how these new technologies affect the production patterns and specialization of these countries as well as their ability to structurally transform their economies. Conversely, little is being discussed about how the vulnerable countries could embrace and reap the benefits of these technologies.

The international community in SDG Target 9.c. commits to “significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020”. This target will certainly be missed as many vulnerable countries are struggling to get their people connected to the internet. In LDCs, only 17.5 percent have internet connection, in comparison to 81 percent in developed countries. In addition, there are indications that the growth in penetration of households with internet access at home, in LDCs, is slowing down.

These countries are far behind when it comes to broadband or high-speed internet, which is at the core of driving the new technologies. Recent data from ITU shows that there are four times as many mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in developed countries as there are in LDCs.

Yet, broadband Internet can help all countries to leap-frog in various areas, including education, health, government services, and trade. Broadband Internet can also deliver innovative services and applications and trigger new business opportunities.

Given these challenges, it is therefore a concern that frontier technologies could increase inequality between richer countries and those that are left behind.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a few findings of a recent study that ITU and my office conducted on the impact of broadband in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. The report confirms that broadband has positive economic impact in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. For example, our study found that a 10 percent increase in mobile broadband penetration leads to between 2.5 percent and 2.8 per cent increase in GDP per capita. The increase in GDP per capital is influenced by among others, increased investment opportunities, improved education and skills, better job opportunities and, increased labour force participation.

Another important finding of our report is that the economic impact of both fixed and mobile broadband is greater in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDs than in developed countries. This indicates that a policy of further investment in improving broadband access, connectivity and uptake in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS could yield higher economic returns than in other countries.

A summary of this report has been circulated in the room. The full report can be found on both the ITU and OHRLLS website. I would like to end my opening remarks by stressing that LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS can and should benefit from the digital economy. They should be at the center of discussions related to this topic, including, when setting norms at the international level. Otherwise, these vulnerable countries will be left further behind. As the preparations of the Fifth 51�Թ� Conference on LDCs have started, my hope is also that the outcomes of your engagement on issues of digital Cooperation feed into negotiations on the formulation of the programme of action for LDCs for the decade 2021-2030.

Other groups should also find the various avenues where elements of the initiative we are discussing today, as well as, the broader discussion on digital interdependence could be incorporated.

Front Page Article:

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: the Case of Vanuatu (2018)

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 16:37:00 +0000

vanuatu_tom_perry_world_bank.jpg

A fisherman can now text for help in Vanuatu.

Tom Perry / World Bank

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) typically encounter many challenges in the development of broadband infrastructure and services to encompass all communities regardless of geographic and socio-economic circumstances. In Vanuatu, communities relying predominantly on subsistence agriculture are spread over some 65 islands in an area of the Pacific particularly prone to regular natural disasters. Many communities do not have ready access to basic infrastructure (including roads and electricity), transport and health services. The isolated location of communities, coupled with a lack of resources, contributes to the difficulties in providing universal high-quality education, and only primary schooling is offered free of charge. In this setting, the availability and accessibility of reliable broadband communications can potentially support profound developmental change.The case studies document how the selected LDCs are leveraging investment in broadband to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development.

Download

Front Page Article:

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: The Case of Cambodia (2018)

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 16:43:00 +0000

undp_cambodia.png

Strengthening climate information and early warning systems in Cambodia.

UNDP Cambodia

In regard to affordability and use, Cambodia has both the cheapest mobile Internet prices and the third highest mobile data usage in the world. Internet usage in the country is second highest among Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Virtually the entire nation is covered by a mobile signal and almost half the population over the age of 14 had a smartphone in 2016. These are remarkable achievements for an LDC.This report, based on field research and primary source material, reviews steps that the Kingdom of Cambodia has taken to leverage broadband Internet for national development.

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Front Page Article:

Broadband for National Development in four LDCs: Cambodia, Rwanda; Senegal, Vanuatu (2018)

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:46:00 +0000

vanuatu_world_bank.jpg

The arrival of improved mobile phone services has dramatically improved emergency services in Vanuatu.

Tom Perry / World Bank

The report outlines challenges and successes encountered by four countries and is a summary of the four reports prepared by the Broadband Commission’s Working Group on Broadband for the most vulnerable countries. Lessons learnt are presented from four evidence-based country studies in Cambodia, Rwanda, Senegal and Vanuatu. This summary report also incorporates lessons learnt from related recent reports.

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Front Page Article:

ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs: Achieving Universal and Affordable Internet

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 16:27:00 +0000

icts_ldcs_and_the_sdgs-_achieving_universal_and_affordable_internet_cover.png

ITU

This report highlights the opportunities that ICTs deliver to tackle development challenges in the most vulnerable countries in the world. This report analyzes ICT developments in the LDCs and tracks progress towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 9.c, to "significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020". Its analysis is based on a new, three-dimensional framework which classifies LDCs into three categories based on their overall performance across the areas of access, affordability and skills. This will help countries identify areas that are most pressing and where to direct policy and scarce financial and human resources

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Front Page Article:

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: the case of Rwanda and Senegal (2017)

Anonymous — Mon, 01 May 2017 16:43:00 +0000

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Audience members in Dar es Salaam cheer during a speech by President John Magufuli of Tanzania

World Bank

The case of Rwanda //

Broadband offers a way to diversify and add value to the economy and information and communication technology (ICT) is key crosscutting enabler for the country’s development strategy. The government is intent on increasing the service sector to reduce reliance on traditional agricultural production and exports. The country’s Vision 2020 calls for Rwanda becoming a middle-income knowledge economy with ICT considered one of the three crosscutting areas for achieving the vision.

The case of Senegal //

The 2014 Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP) envisions Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a fundamental crosscutting enabler to transform the economy and achieve the status of an emerging economy by 2035. The ESP calls for spreading broadband and Internet access across the territory and leveraging Senegal’s infrastructure and human capacity to become an ICT hub for West Africa.

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Front Page Article:

Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Internet

Remarks at the Briefing to Permanent Missions of the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

13 September 2019 New York, USA

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: the Case of Vanuatu (2018)

vanuatu_tom_perry_world_bank.jpg

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: The Case of Cambodia (2018)

undp_cambodia.png

Broadband for National Development in four LDCs: Cambodia, Rwanda; Senegal, Vanuatu (2018)

vanuatu_world_bank.jpg

ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs: Achieving Universal and Affordable Internet

icts_ldcs_and_the_sdgs-_achieving_universal_and_affordable_internet_cover.png

Leveraging Investments in Broadband for National Development: the case of Rwanda and Senegal (2017)

tanzania_wb.jpg

13 September 2019
New York, USA