"The United Nations pointed out in 2010 that more Indians have access to a mobile phone than to a toilet. There are over 800 million mobile connections, although the number of unique users (excluding inactive connections) is estimated at around 600 million. Together with the fact that 60 percent of
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all households have cable and satellite television, providing access to many of the 700-plus television channels licensed to broadcast, it becomes clear that in garrulous India, mass poverty and marginalization do not result in a perfect “digital divide.” This, together with the fact that the public broadcaster’s prime terrestrial channel, DD National, covers about 92 percent of the 1.2 billion-plus population, clearly suggests that the users of digital technologies in India include many of the 300 million still below the official poverty line. In the case of the digital switchover, it is broadly in this area of public interest that most attention needs to be focused, whether it be in the area of greater accountability and autonomy of the state broadcaster, the governance of private media infrastructure, transparency and equity in licensing criteria and in mechanisms of allocating resources, and compliance with global standards of professional journalism. These values will go some way toward giving India a plurality of voices and media outlets that would properly reflect what may be the most diverse social and political landscape on the planet." (Open Society Foundations website)
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"This report presents a comprehensive and multidimensional overview of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) sector in Afghanistan, covering developments and intersections across the areas of Internet and telecom infrastructure; policy, services, accessibility and affordability; key
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players and operators; and legal and regulatory governance frameworks." (Foreword)
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"El Gobierno de Nicaragua ha identificado las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) como un pilar clave de su estrategia para mejorar la gestión pública y aumentar la competitividad; sin embargo, se encuentra en desventaja comparativa en materia de inversión, activos y resultados
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respecto a otros países de la región y del mundo. Este documento de discusión presenta un argumento sobre el rol de las TIC en la agenda del desarrollo, describe un diagnóstico del estado actual de la penetración y uso de las TIC en Nicaragua, e identifica los principales retos y desafíos. El documento aborda el tema en un contexto comparativo regional y global, para facilitar la evaluación de la situación del país. A la vista de los datos y análisis presentados, se mencionan opciones de política que podría explorar el gobierno de Nicaragua para enfrentar los desafíos identificados en aspectos institucionales, regulatorios, de despliegue de infraestructuras y de generación de la demanda, mediante el desarrollo de servicios y aplicaciones que respondan a las necesidades y prioridades de individuos, empresas y el gobierno. El documento concluye con una serie de recomendaciones de política específicas que facilitarían la inserción del país en la economía digital." (Resumen)
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"The Broadband Strategies Handbook is a guide for policymakers, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders as they address issues related to broadband development. It aims to help readers, particularly those in developing countries, by identifying issues and challenges in broadband development, ana
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lyzing potential solutions to consider, and providing practical examples from countries that have addressed broadband-related matters. The Handbook looks at how broadband is defined, why it is important, and how its development can be encouraged. Throughout the volume, broadband is viewed as an ecosystem consisting of both supply and demand components, both of which are equally important if the expansion of broadband networks and services is to be successful. In addressing the challenges and opportunities that broadband gives rise to, the Handbook discusses the policies and strategies that government officials and others should consider when developing broadband plans, including the legal and regulatory issues, what technologies are used to provide broadband, how to facilitate universal broadband access, and how to generate demand for broadband services and applications." (Abstract)
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"La rápida difusión de la telefonía móvil en los países emergentes está cambiando las relaciones entre los actores económicos, los modos de relación interpersonal y la dinámica política de estas sociedades de forma acelerada y difícil de predecir. A lo largo de la historia, la tecnología
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ha infl uido de forma decisiva en los procesos de desarrollo económico y cambio social. Y aunque la telefonía móvil no es una excepción, su rápida difusión se convierte en un reto para comprender cuáles son sus efectos sobre los modos de organización social y política, así como sobre las culturas y los procesos de desarrollo económico. Este libro pretende contribuir a la comprensión de este fenómeno analizando el impacto de la telefonía móvil en el desarrollo social y económico de América Latina en la última década. En el estudio, en el que han colaborado reconocidos especialistas, se analizan los resultados obtenidos en una amplia investigación que abarca análisis regionales y casos de estudio en Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Perú." (Descripción de la casa editorial)
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"The Afghan media have flourished since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001. Under Taliban rule, television was banned and there was only one government-controlled radio station. Today Afghanistan boasts over 75 TV stations, 175 radio station and hundreds of newspapers and magazines. However,
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according to pro-democracy groups, heavy handed government controls on radio, television and newspapers and the harassment and intimidation of journalists remain major problems. Radio is still the main channel for communicating news and information. But it is losing ground steadily to television, particularly in the towns and cities. As television ownership grows, the number of households with a radio set is declining. A media audience survey commissioned by USAID in 2010 found that 63% of all Afghans listen to radio regularly. The survey, conducted by Altai Consulting, found that only 48% of all Afghans watch television regularly. But it showed that once Afghans get a television in their home, they tend to abandon the radio. The Altai Consulting survey of 6,648 people in over 900 towns and villages indicated that 58% of households with a TV no longer possess a radio. Other recent audience surveys by BBC World Service Trust and the Asia Foundation indicate a slightly higher rate of radio listening than the Altai Consulting study. But all three point to a steady drift of broadcasting audiences from radio to television. It is therefore vital that humanitarian agencies communicate with the public through television as well as radio to ensure that they engage a wide audience." (Media overview, page 9)
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