"Section 1 focuses on creating an enabling environment. Mobile network operators (MNOs) operate in a regulated environment.5 However, if this environment is not sufficiently enabling to support disaster preparedness, response and recovery, MNOs will encounter challenges when disaster strikes. This s
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ection provides a broad overview of a country’s mobile landscape by helping practitioners to appraise the policy, legal and regulatory environment and identify key areas for policy intervention.
Section 2 focuses on data sharing. Here, practitioners can take a closer look at the data ecosystem by examining not only the policy and regulations that exist on paper, but also what it takes to implement data infrastructure and policies for using and protecting data across the humanitarian ecosystem. These include institutional mandates, technological options, human capabilities, incentives and enforcement mechanisms. Understanding how infrastructure systems, processes, people and policies support humanitarian innovation in practical ways is key.
Section 3 provides an analysis of use cases in mobile-enabled emergency telecommunications. These use cases help to capture the lived experiences of those in the humanitarian ecosystem and guide policy reviews in support of government priorities, use cases and humanitarian interventions." (About this guide, page 5)
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"The persistent gender gap in mobile access and use is already well documented, as are the significant benefits of closing it. Across low- and middle-income countries today, women are eight per cent less likely than men to own a mobile phone, 20 per cent less likely to use mobile internet and 33 per
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cent less likely to use mobile money. Often, it is those marginalised women who are without access to a mobile phone and all its services who would benefit most from using one. Equipping women with mobiles, bringing them online and enabling them to access a wealth of information and services, including mobile money and mobile internet, can also have a positive impact on their families and communities, and help to achieve many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For the mobile industry, this also makes business sense. We estimate that closing the gender gap in mobile access and use could generate a revenue uplift for the mobile industry of 12 to 37 per cent in a typical low- and middle-income market in Africa, and 11 to 54 per cent in Asia. This guide outlines the practical steps mobile operators can take to reach female customers and realise this opportunity. Drawing on our research and work with operators and other partners across Africa, Asia and Latin America over the last decade, including a recent survey of employees from mobile operating companies (opcos) by Altai Consulting, we have distilled 10 key recommendations for reaching women with mobile. While consideration of the unique local context is crucial, some overarching themes have emerged. Examples are used to illustrate our recommendations, and some in-depth case studies are included in the Appendix." (Introduction, page 6)
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"On average across 34 countries, one in five adults (20%) have access to both a smartphone and a computer, while 43% only have access to a basic cell phone. In 15 out of 34 countries, at least half of adults have access to a smartphone or a computer or both. About three in 10 respondents (31%) use t
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heir cell phones and the Internet at least several times a week. This form of basic digital literacy is widespread (at least 50% of adults) in Mauritius, Gabon, Tunisia, Sudan, South Africa, and Morocco but rare (10% or less) in Mali, Niger, and Madagascar. One-fifth of adults (20%) are well prepared to participate in or assist members of their household with a transition to an online learning environment. In contrast, 55% are likely to be ill prepared for remote learning, while 25% of respondents form a middle category representing those who could participate in e-learning given sufficient resources such as devices and/or training. Citizens’ readiness to engage in remote learning is primarily shaped by their level of formal education and access to electricity, rather than by their overall level of wealth or geographic location." (Key findings, page 3)
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"Facts and Figures 2020 reveals that people in rural areas continue to face greater challenges than people in urban areas in terms of remaining connected during the lockdown, especially in developing economies. Large swathes of the rural landscape are still not covered by mobile broadband networks,
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and fewer households in these areas have access to the Internet. Also worrying, the rollout of communications infrastructure is slowing. Since growth in communications infrastructure deployment was already showing signs of slowing in 2019, it is still too early to tell whether growth has stalled because of the pandemic, or whether there are other factors at play. This new edition of Facts and Figures also finds that mobile cellular subscriptions have been declining for the first time in history, and that growth in mobile broadband subscriptions is levelling out. Here, as before, it is not certain if this a result of the COVID-19 crisis: it will be interesting to see what happens once the world finally reverts to a more normal state of affairs. On a more optimistic note, our research confirms that, where connectivity is available, and affordable, young people are enthusiastic adopters of technology and have relatively high levels of Internet use. While overall just over half of the global population is using the Internet, among young people aged 15 to 24 this rises to almost 70 per cent. This is particularly encouraging in view of the fast-growing youth demographic in much of the developing world, where digital technologies have the potential to become a major accelerator of economic growth and development and an important driver of progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals." (Foreword)
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"The government of Zimbabwe is encouraging the use of digital platforms to provide remote learning services during the COVID-19 pandemic, but data showing that most households lack Internet access and reliable electricity suggest that many students will find it difficult or impossible to participate
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. The government should also provide remote-learning services via radio and television, which are more widely accessible, though even this approach will exclude many students. In the longer term, major improvements in electricity supply and Internet connectivity, especially in rural areas, will be needed to move Zimbabwean education into the remote-learning era." (Conclusion)
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"The meaningful connectivity standard is a tool to raise the bar for internet access and set more ambitious policy goals for digital development. It sets minimum thresholds across the four dimensions of internet access that matter most to users. These are: regular internet use - minimum threshold: d
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aily use; an appropriate device - minimum threshold: access to a smartphone; enough data - minimum threshold: an unlimited broadband connection at home or a place of work or study; a fast connection - minimum threshold: 4G mobile connectivity." (Introduction)
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"[...] The DECA is a decision-making tool to help USAID Missions, their partners, and other relevant stakeholders identify the opportunities, maximize the benefits, and manage the risks associated with digital technology. The goal is to help USAID’s partner countries along their journey to self-re
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liance through a better understanding of each country’s digital ecosystem. The DECA pilot phase began September 2019 through August 2020 and USAID/Colombia was the flagship pilot. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Colombia DECA pilot, which was conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. The pilot DECA included desk research, consultations with USAID/Colombia, and two weeks of in-country research. A total of 60 key informant interviews and three site visits were conducted with stakeholders from civil society, academia, the private and public sectors, and USAID/Colombia technical offices. The DECA pilot was guided by four key USAID/Colombia priorities: implementing the peace agreement, promoting licit economies, integrating Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees, and strengthening citizen security." (Executive summary)
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"[...] se identificaron rápidamente las principales temáticas a incluir en el libro. Estas son: acceso a Internet y derechos humanos online, populismo y desinformación, privacidad, ciberseguridad, big data y datos abiertos, teleeducación, teletrabajo, cooperación digital y transformación digit
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al de las empresas. El libro tiene como propósito mostrar cómo Internet, en tiempos de la COVID-19, desde diversas áreas, le ha servido a la humanidad, pero en particular a nuestra región, que, con una perspectiva latinoamericana, ha sabido tomar como referencia experiencias globales. Además, su objetivo es presentar los nuevos retos y riesgos que han surgido, a fin de demostrar cómo estos pueden atenderse coordinadamente entre los diversos actores comprometidos para minimizar su impacto." (Introducción, página 19)
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"This publication is a compilation of 19 articles by African researchers, academics, journalists and human and digital rights activists on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital rights in Africa. The articles were commissioned by the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec
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) Coalition as part of its project on “Securing human rights online in Africa through a strong and active ‘African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ network”. The AfDec Coalition is a pan-African initiative which promotes human rights standards and principles of openness in internet policy formulation and implementation on the continent, guided by the 13 principles established in the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. At the time that the papers were commissioned, in June 2020, African states had either invoked existing policies or adopted new policies for prevention of spread, containment and treatment of the virus that had an impact on the enjoyment of digital rights. For example, most governments employed the use of contact tracing applications to track and trace citizens’ movements and put in place measures criminalising free speech when it contained false information about the pandemic. These two examples had the potential to be abused, particularly the latter, which was used to silence journalists and government critics. The pandemic also moved most citizens’ communication, education, work, trade and access to basic services from physical interactions to primilary online interactions. However, the continent is still largely made up of informal economies, has a low internet penetration rate of 28.2% (far below the global average of around 53%), and has seen an increase in reports of digital rights violations resulting from repressive cyberlaws, making the efforts to address the pandemic inadequate and inequitable. These articles offer reflective analyses on government efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the AfDec principles, with a focus on a number of the principles including privacy and personal data protection, gender equality, freedom of expression, internet access and affordability, and the right to development and access to knowledge." (Introduction)
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"The digital divide in rural areas is an important social issue, especially in developing countries. Although Internet and broadband penetration have increased in the world generally, there are many obstacles for rural China to get access to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and its ser
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vices. The mobile platform is regarded as a novel and effective tool to reduce the digital divide. Based on a case of one mobile platform, namely WeCountry in Chinese rural areas, this study illustrates how a mobile platform bridges the digital divide and helps rural areas achieve social inclusion. Results show that: (1) the mobile platform mainly acts on the digital capability divide elimination, and it has to guide and increase users’ usage capability; (2) the mobile platform can empower villagers in structural, psychological, and resource dimensions, achieving political inclusion, social participation inclusion, and economic inclusion; (3) platform providers and government are key organizations during the divide elimination process. This paper concludes with theoretical and practical implications." (Abstract)
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"Specifically, the review focuses on the means, barriers, and associated cybersecurity and privacy concerns that refugees face around connectivity. This includes but is not limited to mobile connectivity and social media, particularly in displacement contexts. While these subjects may at times inter
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sect with parallel conversations on digital identity or biometrics, the latter are not the focus of this chapter. UNHCR provides support and international protection to forcibly displaced persons, including refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. This report will reference ‘refugees’ and this can be read broadly to encompass refugees and other persons of concern, unless explicity stated otherwise. This literature review is divided into different sub-themes. An annex also provides a brief overview of who are the main actors writing about connectivity in humanitarian contexts, and with what angles and / or interests." (Introduction)
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"Kenya’s digital ecosystem has significant strengths not yet fully leveraged:
• Political interest in digital technology at national and county level: The Government of Kenya’s
(GoK) digital economy blueprint, ICT Masterplan, and eCitizen (government service platform for
Kenyan citizens and re
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sidents) are only a few of many digital initiatives undertaken to transform Kenya
into a thriving middle-income country by 2030. County-level programming such as County Data Desks
have demonstrated great initiative by county leadership in embracing digital tools to ensure a more
transparent and efficient process.
• Relatively strong digital infrastructure: Kenya’s expanding ICT infrastructure and GoK’s pursuit
of innovations driving connectivity (e.g., Google Loon pilots) demonstrates an investment in Kenya’s
inclusive future.
• Strong private sector engagement in digital innovation: From large mobile network operators and
multinational tech companies to startups and aspiring entrepreneurs, Kenya’s rich innovation culture is
an undervalued and underleveraged national resource." (Executive summary, page 3)
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"There are several overarching reasons why billions of people remain offline, ranging from a lack of network infrastructure availability and affordable Internet services to gaps in skills and ability, the availability and cost of personal devices, and a perceived lack of relevancy. For example, over
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750 million people (approximately 10 per cent of the global population) are not covered by mobile broadband (3G or higher).2 This lack of coverage is particularly concentrated in rural and remote areas. In addition to the coverage gap, usage gaps exist in places with broadband coverage. For example, while up to 31 per cent of individuals in Africa do not have mobile broadband coverage, around 45 per cent do not use mobile Internet even though they live in places with mobile coverage. Estimates also suggest that there are at least 88 countries worldwide where average prices for entry-level mobile broadband service are considered unaffordable (above 2 per cent of average monthly GNI per capita).
The Last-Mile Connectivity Internet Solutions Guide was developed to support the design and development of programmes and interventions that address two of these main issues: the lack of Internet infrastructure availability in certain areas; high Internet service prices that make Internet connectivity unaffordable for local populations. The Solutions Guide presents a methodology for introducing sustainable, affordable connectivity solutions in unconnected and underserved geographies. Although the other challenges (e.g. digital literacy, personal devices and locally relevant content) are as important, they are not the focus here, as they are addressed in depth in other resources listed in the Annex 2. This Solutions Guide was developed to help accelerate actions by Member States to address last-mile Internet connectivity issues in situations that include a lack of network infrastructure and with a view to encouraging more affordable service delivery. It has been written from the perspective of localities and users in geographies without Internet access: the last-mile connectivity communities. The tools, service interventions and policy solutions therefore reflect how best to extend Internet access to those localities, taking into account their unique characteristics." (Executive summary)
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"Nearly USD 428 billion is required to achieve universal access to broadband connectivity by 2030 at the global level. This amount includes significant investment in infrastructure, investments to design and implement policy and regulatory frameworks that incentivize and promote growth in broadband
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connectivity and investments to support and equip populations around the world with the necessary basic digital skills (the skills necessary to navigate the Internet and to use commonly available local applications) and the content needed to benefit meaningfully from broadband access and use.
Achieving the target of connecting all of humanity to broadband Internet by 2030 is, above all, an infrastructure investment challenge. Around 2.6million 4G BTS and700 000 km of backbone fibre transmission infrastructure would have to be rolled out on top of the existing broadband network capabilities. Around 90 per cent of the required investments are directly tied to the need to roll out and maintain broadband networks to support the additional connected user base and related traffic. In addition, 40 per cent of total investments would have to be allocated to CAPEX buildout for last mile broadband and transmission networks capable of reaching and serving at least 90 per cent of the target population. This shows that deploying new infrastructure and upgrading the existing one will be necessary to guarantee a 4G equivalent connection to everyone. While in some regions bridging the connectivity gap predominantly means upgrading existing coverage and capacity sites, nearly half of the required radio access network (RAN) infrastructure investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and East Asia/Pacific will be greenfield. This increases the overall weight of investments in such regions to a large extent, especially given the fact that greenfield CAPEX often demands equity premium. Moreover, considerably more capacity would be needed as technology evolves and demand grows, and this means existing infrastructure reach and capacity will constantly need to be expanded." (Pages 4-5)
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"This book discusses how digital inequalities today may lead to other types of inequalities in the Global South. Contributions to this collection move past discussing an access problem - a binary division between 'haves and have-nots' - to analyse complex inequalities in the internet use, benefits,
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and opportunities of people in the Global South region. Using specific case studies, this book underlines how communities in the Global South are now attempting to participate in the information age despite high costs, a lack of infrastructure, and more barriers to entry. Contributions discuss the recent changes in the Global South. These changes include greater technological availability, the spread of digital literacy programs and computer courses, and the overall growth in engagement of people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages in digital environments." (Publisher description)
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"Contrary to optimistic visions of a free internet for all, the problem of the 'digital divide' - the disparity between those with access to internet technology and those without - has persisted for close to twenty-five years. In this textbook, Jan van Dijk considers the state of digital inequality
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and what we can do to tackle it. Through an accessible framework based on empirical research, he explores the motivations and challenges of seeking access and the development of requisite digital skills. He addresses key questions such as: Does digital inequality reduce or reinforce existing, traditional inequalities? Does it create new, previously unknown social inequalities? While digital inequality affects all aspects of society and the problem is here to stay, Van Dijk outlines policies we can put in place to mitigate it." (Back cover)
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"There are now more than 3.8 billion mobile internet subscribers globally, representing 49% of the world’s population. However, adoption has not been equitable, with mobile internet adoption standing at 26% in Sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2019. The region accounts for almost half of the global
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population not covered by a mobile broadband network." (Page 1)
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"The internet has revolutionised the way that many of us live our lives, enabling new forms of communication, fostering online communities, fuelling economic growth, and facilitating all manner of entertainment. Yet about half of the world’s population remains offline, and only about 19% of the Le
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ast Developed Countries’ (LDCs) population has access to the internet. The reality of access in rural areas across the world is even more bleak, with access in rural areas sitting at about 14% compared to 42% in urban areas in Global South countries. It is more urgent than ever to focus on affordable and meaningful mobile broadband internet access to deliver on the promise and opportunities of digital development in developing countries of the Global South, with special attention to rural areas and LDCs in general. In order to achieve the universal goals for reducing inequality and achieving universal access by 2030, it is crucial to have clear frameworks that can guide and speed up progress. This Rural Broadband Policy Framework (RBPF) aims to provide guidance to address the persistent ‘Digital Divide’, with a focus on the context and challenges faced in rural areas." (Introduction)
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