World Information Society Reports • Series launched in 2006 – Progress in bridging the digital divide – Monitoring WSIS implementation • Prepared by the Digital Opportunity Platform – A multi-stakeholder partnership including ITU, UNCTAD, KADO, MIC Korea, LBS, LIRNEAsia. • 2nd edition published on May 16 2007 – 8 Chapters, Statistical Annex, Maps etc: 220pp – Full text online at www.itu.int/wisr The digital divide by income group Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform. Shrinking digital divide for Internet Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform. But new gaps are emerging … • Broadband prices are 10x higher in lowincome than highincome economies – In 9 low-income countries, prices per 100 kbit/s are above USD500 per month – In Japan and Korea, prices are below USD0.10 per month – 33 African economies do not have broadband Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform. Digital Opportunity, 2005-06 The Digital Opportunity Index (DOI) measures each economy’s level of ICT development. It is a composite index of 11 separate indicators, ranging between 0 and 1. DOI is one of two indices endorsed by WSIS. Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform. Top performers Top 10, 2006 DOI Score 1. Korea (Rep.) 0.80 1. Morocco +36 2. Japan 0.77 2. Russian Fed. +27 3. Denmark 0.76 3. Senegal +22 4. Iceland 0.74 4. Ghana +19 5. Singapore 0.72 5. Antigua & Barbuda +18 6. Netherlands 0.71 6. Gabon +18 7. Taiwan-China 0.71 7. Belize +16 8. Hong-Kong-China 0.70 8. Bhutan +15 9. Sweden 0.70 9. Côte d’Ivoire +13 10. UK 0.69 10. Romania +13 Note: Based on an analysis of 181 economies. Source: ITU/UNCTAD/KADO Digital Opportunity Platform. Gainers, 2004-06 Change in ranks Threats in cyberspace • Inherited architecture of the Internet was not designed to optimize security • Constant evolution in protocols and algorithms • Introduction of Next-Generation Networks (NGN) • Convergence among ICT services and networks • Network effects – risks far greater • Possibility of anonymity on the Internet • Internationalization requires cross-border cooperation Conclusions • The digital divide is shrinking, but new gaps in quality are emerging: – Availability of newest services – Affordability of broadband • Many countries are experiencing much higher levels of ICT growth – Successful strategies based on multi-stakeholder partnerships • New risks threaten cyberspace – Spam, viruses, phishing, identity theft etc • Full text online at: www.itu.int/wisr Thank you very much Tim.kelly@itu.int Mongi.Hamdi@unctad.org www.itu.int/wisr www.unctad.org/wisr