Achieving Universal and Affordable Internet in the Least Developed Countries
ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs
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This report provides insights into the great strides that Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have made in regard to information and communication technology access, and the opportunities that ICTs offer in addressing severe structural impediments to sustainable development in this group of countries. Today, there is a clear recognition of the importance of information and communication technologies. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes that “the spread of information and communications technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies”.
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Expanding supply side infrastructure
Access to ICTs in LDCs is influenced by a range of exogenous factors such as land area, population density, location and governance as well as endogenous factors relating to regulatory issues such competition, spectrum, infrastructure sharing and universal service. This chapter assesses ICT infrastructure and related issues such as competition, public private partnerships and regulatory environments in LDCs.
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