Preface

Information and communication technology (ICT) has become an indispensable tool in the fight against world poverty. ICT provides developing nations with an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital development goals such as poverty reduction, basic healthcare and education far more effectively than before. Those nations that succeed in harnessing the potential of ICT can look forward to greatly expanded economic growth, dramatically improved human welfare and stronger forms of democratic government.

Some direct and indirect advantages of ICT:

• Improves information access.

• Improves educational and health program.

• Extend geographical reach.

• Increased competition.

• Investment growth.

• New trade opportunities.

• Lower prices.

• Facilities market entry, especially for SMEs.

• New sources of revenue.

ICT appears to be an essential component of development initiatives and can act as a powerful overall enable of development. If every country approach the ICT sector with the same kind of urgency and application as the commercial sector, then they will have every chance of building a strong world, new wired future that not only includes the world’s poor but gives them an unprecedented opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.

The scale of the ICT challenge is immense. Despite the forces of market liberalization and globalization and efforts at public policy reform, the goal of achieving universal access to ICT and global information infrastructure has remained elusive, and the disparity in access to ICT is growing.

A unique willingness should be exists among all partners – promoted by the government – and stake-holders, including companies, foundations, non-government organization (NGOs) and multilateral organization to work together to eradicate digital inequity among all segment of community, in particularly rich and poor people.

A strong ICT plan must be developed the entire world to reduce the ICT disparity. The e-readiness condition in every country is different. The major problem of developed world is related to privacy, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), security etc. However, the primary concern of developing world are pricing, regulation, content, know-how and awareness. Every country has to make self-assessment in order they can develop the right ICT plan. A comprehensive self-assessment tool can figure out the e-readiness condition.

ICT development plan must start with knowing what assets and capabilities do the country have and what must be done to leverage these advantages. The plan also should identify what must be acquired in order to improve level of e-readiness. Therefore a framework for analyzing and determining a level of e-readiness is a basic before drawing up a plan for ICT.