‘Bridging Digital Divide, Panacea to Rural Development’

The advantages of mobile technologies such as HSPA are set to drive broadband to a true global mass market and turn millions of users into billions.

While there are around 350 million broadband subscriptions worldwide, the vast majority of the world’s population still does not have access to broadband. Rural areas in particular are being left behind. If broadband is to be enabled for everyone, then combing existing fixed broadband with then latest HSPA technology is the only answer.

 Key to Sustainable Growth

Providing broadband access is a key priority for many governments and international bodies – the socio-economic benefits are well documented. Broadband improves many aspects of our daily lives, providing access to healthcare and education, as well as information and entertainment. It stimulates entrepreneurial activities, facilitates industrial growth and can enable a more sustainable society.

To make the best out of the benefits of broadband, it is important to bring it to the rural dwellers in the 774 local government areas of this country. The advantage of mobile technology is that it is often the only way to quickly and cost-effectively reach those in rural areas or areas with little or no fixed infrastructure. Australia’s Telstra is a good example. Ericsson assisted in rolling out broadband access with WCDMA/HSPA to more than 98 per cent of the population in less than 10 months and Nigeria can do same for God’s sake.

 Access to Broadband

Mobile broadband is also revolutionalising the way people learn. It widens access to education and makes it flexible regarding when and where it can be acquired. A collaboration between Ericsson and Stanford University, for example, is bringing the benefits of mobile distance learning to several countries in Africa. Students in remote locations in countries like Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa are able to submit and access video, audio and text-based course materials and participate in online discussion forums.

A US Department of Commerce study in 2006 determined several positive effects of broadband, including growth in employment levels and business establishments. Interestingly, it also found that weaker economic regions were just as likely to benefit from having access to broadband, and in some cases the impacts were actually greater.

There is a clear proportionate relationship between growth in GDP and access to information and communications technology. It can be the catalyst for economic and social development.