| Information note to the press |
International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release |
| Telephone: | +41 22 730 6039 | |
| Telefax: | +41 22 730 5933 |
| E-mail: | pressinfo |
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Mobile and internet connectivity improves in
least developed countries
ITU to release report for Brussels Plan of Action review in New
York
Geneva, 11 September 2006 —
State-of-the-art information and communication technologies (ICT) can empower
people to achieve their development aspirations through information and
knowledge. During the past five years, many of the least developed countries (LDCs)
have made remarkable progress in achieving the ICT connectivity targets set out
in the Brussels Plan of Action for Least Developed Countries. These targets have
been met by 25 of the 50 LDCs. The mobile sector in LDCs has grown considerably
and access to the internet has also increased, providing a host of applications,
such as e-education, e-health, e-business, e-agriculture, and e-government to
tie in with the goals and objectives of the World Summit on the Information
Society.
The International Telecommunication Union will launch a report in New York on
13 September 2006 on ICT/Telecommunication development in least developed
countries. The report examines key developments in the ICT and
telecommunications sector including trends and challenges in the world’s poorest
countries in the period 2001 to 2005.
The ITU report will be unveiled during a special session on "Integrating
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into the world economy through
telecommunications/ICT" to be held during the Mid-Term Review on
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries
for the decade 2001-2010.
The special session will review progress in ICT and telecommunications
development in LDCs as well as discuss the concrete work to be implemented in
the next five years in the following priority areas :
- Promotion of universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable
access to ICT in underserved areas.
- Rehabilitation and reconstruction of telecommunication
infrastructure in LDCs following disasters and war.
- ICT for disaster management, including the dissemination of
understandable warnings to those at risk.
For highlights of ITU’s success stories in Least Developed Countries
and Small Island Developing States, click
here
|
When: |
13 September 2006 |
|
Where: |
Room 8, United Nations Secretariat,
New York. |
|
Who: |
All stakeholders concerned with
bridging the digital divide and achieving the development goals in least
developed countries. |
For further information, please contact:
|
Mr
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
ITU
Tel: +41 22 730 6135
E-mail Contact |
Mr
Cosmas Zavazava
Head
Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and
Emergency Telecommunications
ITU
Tel: + 41 22 730 5447
E-mail
Contact |
About ITU
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