As more of the world becomes digital, broadband access becomes more important than ever, including in LDC and LLDCs. However, for telecom operators, laying fibre-optic cables is not always economically viable. One of the major challenges facing LDCs is the lack of adequate physical infrastructure, including electricity, transport and ICT.

The economic cost and resources used to deploy the ICT infrastructure could be optimized through using new approach/methodology – co-deployment, which is defined as the concomitant deployment of ducts and/or fibre-optic cables during the construction of infrastructure such as new roads, highways, railways and power transmission lines. The main factors stimulating the co-deployment and sharing of infrastructure are economic benefits and requirements for the efficient use of limited resources.

In 2021 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) launched new Web-Toolkit targeted on the Integrated Planning of Infrastructure Corridors (Solution) that consists from two innovative products: Infrastructure Corridors Simulator and Partnership Portal on Co-deployment of ICT infrastructure with road-transport and energy infrastructure. Simulation tool is aimed to determine the most appropriate model for development of new Integrated Infrastructure Corridors. The knowledge product includes in-depth research and methodology on identifying and developing promising infrastructure corridors. It also includes the software implementation of the model. Partnership Portal is aimed to support ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and energy infrastructure. The web- portal provides developers and owners of ICT, road, railway and energy infrastructure and other stakeholders an opportunity to explore the knowledge base on co-deployment of infrastructure and to create partnerships and cooperation on co-deployment of ICT and other infrastructure

https://co-deployment.online/

• Asia and Pacific

• The unemployed
• The poor
• Remote and rural communities

Currently solution was used to calculate three infrastructure corridors connect Almaty (Kazakhstan) with Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan), Semey (Kazakhstan) with Rubtsovsk (Russia), and Urzhar (Kazakhstan) with Chuguchak (China), but solution is replicable and adaptable to any country in the world.
• The study for three infrastructure corridors connect Almaty (Kazakhstan) with Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan), Semey (Kazakhstan) with Rubtsovsk (Russia), and Urzhar (Kazakhstan) with Chuguchak (China).
• Calculation methods for determining the most promising scenarios for infrastructure corridor development
These outputs were then shared and promoted through the capacity-building workshops in July 2021 with key stakeholders of Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (LLDCSs). Other SPECA countries, like Afghanistan (LDC/LLDC) may also leverage on these toolkits, outputs and best practice cases, to be incorporated within respective co-deployment strategies and seize more opportunities for sustainable projects in the future

The both parts of Web-Toolkit are actively supported via network of international and national experts, series of trainings and ongoing updating that make solution sustainable for the long term.

The aim of this ESCAP project is concentrated on develop modern ICT infrastructure, increase access to telecommunication services and promote public-private partnerships for the development and maintenance of transport and ICT infrastructure.