ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of the important role that information and communication technologies (ICT) can play in bridging the knowledge divide and helping raise the necessary global commitment to achieve sustainable development (SD). Knowledge partnerships between the developed and the developing world could help in the rapid generation and diffusion of knowledge, coupled with rapid technological advances affecting all facets of life in all countries. Technology and innovation influence and are influenced by globalisation. Technological innovation in ICTs and liberalisation of the regulatory context of the media and telecommunications sectors has profoundly changed the global communications landscape. Digital Opportunity Index (DOI) is a new index created from the set of internationally agreed core ICT indicators. The DOI is a standard tool that governments, operators, development agencies, researchers and others can use to measure the digital divide and compare ICT performance within and across countries.