What is Rural ICT development?
In many countries, a digital divide exists between the internet-haves and internet-havenots. In most cases the internet-haves live in urban areas and the havenots in rural areas. In urban areas, the market generally works quite well, there is competition and investments are relatively low due to the density of the population. Governments believe that it is important to close the gap between the internet-haves and havenots, because if they do not act the gap will widen.
Why Rural ICT development?
Rural ICT development is not only important for closing the gap as such. Bringing the benefits of ICT into rural areas might also help solving typical rural problems, like coping with the aging population. It may bring jobs tot rural areas and help stimulate the local economy. Last but not least, it might help to keep young people in the rural areas and give them a better future there.
How?
The most important thing is to arrange funding. Because of the high costs and lack of demand, the private sector has apparently not invested. Intelligent funding mechanisms will have to help to overcome the high costs or the lack of demand. The Government may decide to work on the cost side and help subsidize the infrastructure or work on the demand side and help the rural people and businesses.
In many countries, a digital divide exists between the internet-haves and internet-havenots. In most cases the internet-haves live in urban areas and the havenots in rural areas. In urban areas, the market generally works quite well, there is competition and investments are relatively low due to the density of the population. Governments believe that it is important to close the gap between the internet-haves and havenots, because if they do not act the gap will widen.
Why Rural ICT development?
Rural ICT development is not only important for closing the gap as such. Bringing the benefits of ICT into rural areas might also help solving typical rural problems, like coping with the aging population. It may bring jobs tot rural areas and help stimulate the local economy. Last but not least, it might help to keep young people in the rural areas and give them a better future there.
How?
The most important thing is to arrange funding. Because of the high costs and lack of demand, the private sector has apparently not invested. Intelligent funding mechanisms will have to help to overcome the high costs or the lack of demand. The Government may decide to work on the cost side and help subsidize the infrastructure or work on the demand side and help the rural people and businesses.
