Information & Communication Technologies: Who gets to play? Rohan Samarajiva Presentation at UNDP Global Meeting on ICT4D, Ottawa, 9-12 July 2003

ICTs, knowledge work & human development  ICT is not synonym for knowledge  ICTs are a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for effective knowledge work in 21st century  Knowledge is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for development

Necessary but not sufficient... Information and Communication Technologies + other inputs Effective knowledge work at present time + other work Human development

Where are we with ICTs & where do we go?  Sri Lanka in Asia, as example Current comparison is purposely arbitrary  ICT levels/broadband generally correlated with GDP per capita But the e Sri Lanka bet is that ICT can cause wealth to increase; that we need not and should not wait for wealth to give us more ICTs/broadband

Where does Sri Lanka stand? GDP p.cPop. per km 2 Fixed/ 100 pop CAGR, ’ Korea10, Malaysia3, Sri Lanka India Pakistan Nepal

Where does Sri Lanka stand? GDP p.c. Mobile/ 100 pop CAGR, ’95-01 Payph /1k Korea10, Malaysia3, Sri Lanka India Pakistan Nepal

Where does Sri Lanka stand? GDP p.cI hosts /10k(’01) I’net users /10k (‘01) Korea10, Malaysia3, Sri Lanka India Pakistan Nepal

Infrastructure policy priorities  With regard to fixed telephony only?  Mobiles?  Anything but circuit-switched (ABC)?  Internet access?  Internet “publication”?  To enable E-commerce?  To enable E-government?

Why focus on e-government?  It’s the most complicated If e-gov is done, e-commerce (& the rest) automatically done  Network and connectivity challenge is greatest with e-government  Allows focus on “usable knowledge” in local languages Addresses the chicken and egg problem of Internet access and content  Reduces distortion of market signals

e Sri Lanka  Infrastructure: Vishva Grama Fund Multi-service platforms in under-served areas  Least-cost subsidy auctions to leverage private investment  Vishva Gnana Kendra enabling access through intermediaries to e government services Communication services Education, etc.

Resources & contacts   t/ t/  owledge.html owledge.html  Rohan Samarajiva (fax) (voice)