"This edition (2007/2008) continues the tradition of providing an analytical overview of the state of ICT4D in Asia Pacific. It covers 31 countries and economies, including North Korea for the first time. Each country chapter is an attempt to provide a relatively comprehensive coverage of the variou
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s aspects of ICT4D in each of the countries at the time that the chapter was written (in 2006). To provide a broad perspective of the issues covered, the chapters are written by a team of authors representing different sectors, such as government, academe, industry and civil society. There are also fi ve thematic chapters providing a synthesis of some of the key issues in ICT4D in Asia Pacific today." (Introduction, page xii)
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"The second edition of the World Information Society Report, published by ITU and UNCTAD, looks beyond the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, Geneva 2003 - Tunis 2005) to the creation of an inclusive, people-centred and development-oriented Information Society, open to all. The report tr
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acks progress in digital opportunity for 181 economies over the past few years since the start of the WSIS process and is accompanied by a series of tables providing the latest statistics on the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide. The report has been created by the “Digital Opportunity Platform”, an open multi-stakeholder platform with contributions from governments, private sector, academics and civil society, as well as inter-governmental organisations." (Back cover)
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"This toolkit is a resource for community members who want to advance digital inclusion in their city, town, or county that is exploring a broadband/ high-speed Internet initiative. Municipalities are considering many different technologies to increase broadband access - from wireless to fiber - and
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business models ranging from city-owned projects to public-private partnerships. This toolkit groups all of these variations under the common heading of “municipal broadband” to keep the issue of digital inclusion at the center of attention." (How to use this toolkit)
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"This report makes an inventory of existing transmission backbones in Sub-Saharan Africa, and discusses issues related to solutions for improved utilization of such networks. Mobile GSM operators in Sub-Saharan Africa are rapidly covering most populated areas with telephone services. To reach new ar
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eas, the operators keep expanding their transmission links, and the result is the emergence of new telecommunication backbone networks. The mobile operators now own and control the bulk of transmission backbone capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Regulation and competition between operators have largely prevented shared use of these emerging backbones. A number of issues are raised in the report: The lack of open access, the dominating position of the GSM operators, the pricing of transmission services and regulation. It is Sida’s intention to raise these issues among African operators, regulators, policy makers, donors and financing organisations." (Back cover)
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"If the ambitious goal of building a global Information Society is to be realised, it is important to track progress against the indicative targets set out in the WSIS final outcome documents. One of the key elements is the bridging of the digital divide. This is a measure of the gap in access to IC
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Ts between different countries, or between different regions within a country. A further element is to examine the progress of the different multi-stakeholder partnerships that have been established during the WSIS process. There is a sense in which the WSIS has created a learning community, in which policy-makers and regulators can learn from best practice experiences of their neighbours and peers in other parts of the world. This Report is intended to provide guidelines for policymakers, in particular in developing countries, in the context of mobilizing resources and developing their own strategies for building the Information Society. In this regard, the Report covers the main elements of the Information Society and provides a new tool for measuring progress towards building it, through the Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)." (Page 11)
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"Wireless technologies can play an important role in social and economic development by making the exchange of information faster, cheaper and more widely accessible. The massive growth in the use of mobile phones, for instance, has revolutionised business communications in many countries. But some
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governments, especially in Africa, have put policies and regulations in place that limit the introduction of these technologies. For instance, high licence fees, high customs duties on imported equipment, and lack of competition among service providers all keep the costs of using wireless technologies high. Journalists can encourage debate about the positive role governments could have in promoting the potential advantages and applications of wireless technology, and draw attention to any existing restrictive policies." (Page 1)
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"Die moderne Kommunikation hat eine weltumspannende Medienkultur geschaffen. Diese beginnt im neunzehnten Jahrhundert, führt von der Verlegung des ersten Tiefseekabels bis zu den ersten Satelliten und weiter zur Oberfläche der Web-Welt, die den Erfahrungswandel der Medien als Interface-Kultur äst
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hetisch zum Ausdruck bringt." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Providing a succinct introduction to the field of mobile and wireless communications, this book: begins with the basics of radio technology and offers an overview of key scientific terms and concepts for the student reader; addresses the social and economic implications of mobile and wireless techn
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ologies, such as the effects of the deregulation of telephone systems; uses a range of case studies and examples of mobile and wireless communication, legislation and practices from the UK, US, Canada, mainland Europe, the Far East and Australia; contains illustrations and tables to help explain technical concepts and show the growth and change in mobile technologies; and, features a glossary of technical terms, annotated further reading at the end of each chapter and web links for further study and research." (Publisher description)
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"Wie komme ich ins Internet? Welche Zugangsmöglichkeiten gibt es? Welchen Anbieter soll ich wählen? Welcher Tarif ist der beste? Welche Kosten entstehen mir? Was brauche ich an Geräten und Programmen? Wie installiere ich diese? Und was kann dabei schief gehen? Dies sind nur einige der Fragen, die
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Computerbesitzer stellen, wenn sie zu Hause erstmalig eine Internetverbindung einrichten oder von einem Schmalband- auf einen Breitbandzugang umsteigen wollen. Die Fragen sind berechtigt. Tatsächlich ist einiges an Wissen erforderlich, um sich in der Welt der Internet-Zugangsanbieter und Onlinedienste zurechtzufinden. Man braucht nicht nur Betriebssystemkenntnisse, sondern muss auch mit Datennetzen, neuen Endgeräten sowie Übertragungsraten vertraut sein – und sich inzwischen sogar Gedanken darüber machen, wie man künftig fernsehen und telefonieren will. Das Ganze spielt sich in einem Bereich der Technik ab, der durch rasante Veränderungen geprägt ist. Was gestern noch aktuell war, ist heute vielleicht schon überholt. Außerdem gibt es mittlerweile zahlreiche konkurrierende Anbieter, die Sie mit Angeboten geradezu überhäufen – vom etablierten Kommunikationsunternehmen über Onlinedienste, alternative Netzbetreiber bis hin zu Wiederverkäufern; da gilt es, Qualität und Preise sorgsam zu prüfen und sich bei Kombinationsangeboten wie „Internet plus Telefonie“ auch die Konsequenzen der Entscheidung für den künftigen Alltag vor Augen zu führen." (Einleitung)
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