Bridging the Digital Divide

1. Bridging the Digital Divide By Katherine Savanh ksavanh@ucsd.edu Advisor: Professor Cristin McVey cmcvey@dss.ucsd.edu Photo Courtesy of: www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/CYPInternal.asp?NodeID=38453, www.dw-world.de/dw/image/detail/1,1599,1535495_1,00.html, www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/EPS.html, http://borgenproject.org/Pictures.html, www.wsis-cs.org/africa/whatis.shtml, www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2120/stories/20041008001405500.htm • Problems in Africa: • Poverty • Inadequacy in electron grid • Transport network inadequacy • Telephone system are outdated • State own monopolies • Use open source software • Bandwidth cost 10 times more than the US • Program Promote internet use: • Global Classmates Program • Technology Communication Program • YTF= Youth for Technological Foundation • African Connection Project • Potential Ideas for Funding DSF • 1 US penny per international communication • $2 per purchase of a personal computer • $2 per purchase of a software • US penny per piece of network equipment • US penny per computer game • $1 per purchase of a cell phone EDUCATION INTERNET CAFE • Information and Technology Benefits • Education • Economics growth • E-banking • Flow of information • Global campaigns President of Senegal, Abdoulay Wade proposed the DSFund in Dec 2003 at the first WSIS conference • Foreign companies and international countries help aid Africa: • USAID • SITA • United Nations Development Program • Africa Telecommunication Union • Carnegie Corporation • Ford Foundation • McArthur Foundation • Cisco • WSIS-Digital Solidarity Fund • How the fund will be used • 60% for least-developed countries • 30% for other developing countries • 10% for economies in transition • Financial Resource’s Focus • ICT capacity-building programs, materials, tools, educational funding and specialized training • Regional backbone infrastructure • Provide Internet access at affordable price