Analyzing the Network Readiness Index in the United States to Assess ICT Infrastructure in Handling Crises Like COVID-19

Abstract

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has caused disruption all over the world including in the US. It seems that this pandemic is going to stay for a while. Under current circumstances, what matters most is to mitigate its impact to get back to the daily routine as fast as possible. One answer to this challenge is to turn to technology, especially ICT (information and communication technology). Relying on ICT requires a dependable ICT infrastructure that can handle the fast-growing number of users transitioning to online mode. NRI (Network Readiness Index) is a composite index to measure the multi-faceted impact of ICT on society and development. It is a holistic framework measuring the impact of ICT on four fundamental dimensions of society: technology, people, governance, and impact. In this article, a thorough study of the NRI pillars in 2019 is conducted to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of network readiness in the US. The results of the analysis will provide insight into the trend of digital transformation in the USA.