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Conclusion, Recommendations and Implications

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ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries

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Abstract

The main purpose of this chapter is to present a comprehensive overview of empirical findings regarding ICT diffusion in 17 low-income and 29 lower-middle-income countries over the period 2000–2012. It shows major ICT diffusion trends, demonstrates the main features of the technological substitution process, and shows technological convergence dynamics. It also provides insight into seminal factors that accelerate—or, conversely, hinder—rapid ICT diffusion in developing economies. Moreover, it briefly discusses ICT policies that aim to foster ICT deployment in economically backward countries. Finally, it sheds light on the potential role of ICT in boosting growth and development in economically backward countries.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    According to World Bank classification.

  2. 2.

    Narrowband.

  3. 3.

    See evidence in Chap. 4.

  4. 4.

    Author’s calculations.

  5. 5.

    The ‘take over’ time is the estimated number of years necessary so that the ‘new’ technology passes from level of saturation 10 % until 90 %. Put another way, it shows the time required for the new technology to achieve 90 % share on telecommunication market.

  6. 6.

    The year when mobile telephony was introduced to the market varies significantly even in low-, and lower-middle-income countries (see Appendix B).

  7. 7.

    Based on the World Bank 2013 country classifications (see: http://data.worldbank.org/news/new-country-classifications, accessed: May 2014).

  8. 8.

    In 12 countries there was partial competition, and in 4—monopoly (Comoros, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Swaziland).

  9. 9.

    In 9 countries there was partial competition, and in 4—monopoly (Comoros, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Niger).

  10. 10.

    The full text of the ‘Broadband Targets to 2015’ is available at: http://www.broadbandcommission.org/Documents/Broadband_Targets.pdf.

  11. 11.

    The in 2012, the national broadband plan for Nepal was still under draft.

  12. 12.

    The Brussels Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the decade 2001–2010 (BPoA) was worked out during the Third United Nations Conference for the Least Developed Countries (2001). Seven major commitments to challenge the poverty reduction problem and sustain long-term economic development (see UNCTAD 2011) in developing backward countries were approved.

  13. 13.

    The first World Summit on the Information Society was held in two phases, in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. Four major documents were agreed upon during those meetings: ‘Declaration of Principles’ and ‘Geneva Plan of Action’ in Geneva; ‘Commitments’ and ‘Agenda for the Information Society’ in Tunis. Together, they shape the road toward building information societies. The documents place special emphasis on creating mechanisms (including financial support) to bridge the digital divide between developed and developing countries, and to make decisive efforts in assisting the least developed counties to achieve their economic development and ICT deployment goals.

  14. 14.

    Over the decade 2000–2010, ITU through the ITU LDC Programme has assisted in the implementation of 60 projects in developing countries (ITU 2011b) that were mainly focused on ICT deployment (especially in rural areas), establishing Multipurpose Community Centres, and capacity building.

  15. 15.

    In Cambodia and Yemen, the national e-strategies were still under development in 2010.

  16. 16.

    Malawi, the Republic of. (2003). An integrated ICT-led socio-economic development policy for Malawi: A Policy Statement for the Realization of the Aspirations of the Vision 2020 through the Development, Deployment and Exploitation of ICTs within the Economy and Society.

  17. 17.

    In Malawi in 2010, approximately 85 % of the population experienced extreme poverty.

  18. 18.

    Moldova. (2005). National Strategy on Building Information Society—“e-Moldova”. Chisinau, Moldova.

  19. 19.

    Kenya, Ministry of Information and Communications. (2006). National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy.

  20. 20.

    Nigeria. (n.d.). Nigerian National Policy for Information Technology (IT), Use It.

  21. 21.

    India, Government of, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology. (n.d.). The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP): e-Governance initiatives across the country.

  22. 22.

    Guyana, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. (2005). Draft E-Commerce Bill.

  23. 23.

    ITU. (n.d.). WSIS Stocktaking Database, Project ID 1103043762.

  24. 24.

    Many international agencies like for example United Nations Development Programme, International Development Research Centre, International Telecommunication Union, ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) or infoDev (a program in the World Bank group), offer a wide spectrum of evidence demonstrating the effects of ICTs deployment in developing countries. Although the evidence is still relatively scattered and focuses rather on explaining the ‘success stories’ of ICTs implementation for achieving various development goals; it shows that ICTs are adequate tools to fight poverty and economic isolation (Thompson and Garbacz 2007; Cortés and Navarro 2011), enhance communication, information and knowledge flows, promote education and skills improvements, foster trade and other economic activities which generate increase of per capita income, and above all forces countries to head toward social and economic progress.

  25. 25.

    See availability of data on ICTs deployment in examined countries (Appendix B).

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  1. Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland

    Ewa Lechman

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Lechman, E. (2015). Conclusion, Recommendations and Implications. In: ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18254-4_6

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