Many developing countries around the world are frequently confronted with a dual challenge of simultaneously developing IT infrastructure and implementing software solutions. Some countries have successfully created extensive information technology infrastructures, yet software use continues to be reliant on pirated sources. The experiences of licensing regulation violations and increasing virus attacks indicate that part of the problem is a consequence of dependencies created by the use of proprietary software within resource-scarce economies. Recent growth in the use of free and open-source software (FOSS) by various public- and private-sector agencies suggests an alternative path to software self-sufficiency for a resource-scarce country like Cuba. There is, however, an interesting background to current software use within Cuba that makes it unique among several less-developed countries. Apart from the well-known advantages, FOSS use could be essential to shape the future scenario of Cuba. The present paper first delineates some of the Cuban background, basically characterized by lack of freedom in technology ownership and access to external information. The potential of FOSS use within existing conditions in Cuba is then analyzed. Finally, conclusions are provided on the basis of a survey carried out in Cuba, arguing that there needs to be stronger political will to reduce gaps between goals and implementation reality to achieve intrinsic advantages of FOSS use successfully.
{"title":"Imperatives of Free and Open Source Software in Cuban Development","authors":"A. García-Pérez, A. Mitra, Alfredo Somoza-Moreno","doi":"10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Many developing countries around the world are frequently confronted with a dual challenge of simultaneously developing IT infrastructure and implementing software solutions. Some countries have successfully created extensive information technology infrastructures, yet software use continues to be reliant on pirated sources. The experiences of licensing regulation violations and increasing virus attacks indicate that part of the problem is a consequence of dependencies created by the use of proprietary software within resource-scarce economies. Recent growth in the use of free and open-source software (FOSS) by various public- and private-sector agencies suggests an alternative path to software self-sufficiency for a resource-scarce country like Cuba. There is, however, an interesting background to current software use within Cuba that makes it unique among several less-developed countries. Apart from the well-known advantages, FOSS use could be essential to shape the future scenario of Cuba. The present paper first delineates some of the Cuban background, basically characterized by lack of freedom in technology ownership and access to external information. The potential of FOSS use within existing conditions in Cuba is then analyzed. Finally, conclusions are provided on the basis of a survey carried out in Cuba, arguing that there needs to be stronger political will to reduce gaps between goals and implementation reality to achieve intrinsic advantages of FOSS use successfully.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"3 1","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64556605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-10-01DOI: 10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.19
Carter Eltzroth
Broadcasting has an important role in fostering development and alleviating poverty. It is an important industry in its own right and can contribute to growth elsewhere in the creative community. In addition, it can complement other development initiatives, serving as a vector for conveying information, for example, for health, training, and commercial markets. This article builds on the work of the World Bank and other sources on the role of broadcasting in development and reform in the sector. It examines four rationales that can serve as the basis for reform: “telecoms plus,” digital TV, comprehensive media reform, and convergence. For example, “telecoms plus” would extend liberalized rules on telecommunications to broadcast infrastructures. The digital TV rationale would allow a state to account for the advent of new broadcast technologies. The particular rationale adopted within a developing country would depend on its local circumstances. On the basis of these rationales, the article reviews the elements of a conceptual framework that could serve at the core of sector transformation: object of reform; content; infrastructure; ownership; regulator; and other elements for an environment that fosters broadcasting. The article concludes that any step for reform in broadcasting, as in other ICT sectors, should be linked to the overall development of the emerging economy.
{"title":"Broadcasting in Developing Countries: Elements of a Conceptual Framework for Reform","authors":"Carter Eltzroth","doi":"10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.19","url":null,"abstract":"Broadcasting has an important role in fostering development and alleviating poverty. It is an important industry in its own right and can contribute to growth elsewhere in the creative community. In addition, it can complement other development initiatives, serving as a vector for conveying information, for example, for health, training, and commercial markets. This article builds on the work of the World Bank and other sources on the role of broadcasting in development and reform in the sector. It examines four rationales that can serve as the basis for reform: “telecoms plus,” digital TV, comprehensive media reform, and convergence. For example, “telecoms plus” would extend liberalized rules on telecommunications to broadcast infrastructures. The digital TV rationale would allow a state to account for the advent of new broadcast technologies. The particular rationale adopted within a developing country would depend on its local circumstances. On the basis of these rationales, the article reviews the elements of a conceptual framework that could serve at the core of sector transformation: object of reform; content; infrastructure; ownership; regulator; and other elements for an environment that fosters broadcasting. The article concludes that any step for reform in broadcasting, as in other ICT sectors, should be linked to the overall development of the emerging economy.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"3 1","pages":"19-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64556609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-10-01DOI: 10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.39
Marcin Piatkowski
This article investigates the potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) for faster convergence of seven transition economies from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Russia (CEER) with the EU-15 and the U.S. income level. First, the article argues that ICT accelerated the convergence of the four new EU member states with the EU-15 (the case of technological leapfrogging) but decelerated convergence of Romania, Russia, and, to a lesser extent, Bulgaria and Slovakia (the case of a growing digital divide). This divergence was mainly because of the lower quality of the economic and institutional environment, which inhibited the diffusion of ICT. Second, the article shows that ICT has a large potential to increase long-term growth in transition countries. Third, it argues that the use of ICT has an important role in stimulating productivity growth at the industry level and that it offers considerable potential for faster productivity growth in non-ICT-using, “old economy” industries. Realizing this potential, however, will crucially depend on far-reaching structural reforms, business reorganization, investment in human capital, and well-designed public “push strategy.” These lessons are pertinent not only to transition economies, but also to most advanced developing countries.
{"title":"Can Information and Communication Technologies Make a Difference in the Development of Transition Economies","authors":"Marcin Piatkowski","doi":"10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.39","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.39","url":null,"abstract":"This article investigates the potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) for faster convergence of seven transition economies from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Russia (CEER) with the EU-15 and the U.S. income level. First, the article argues that ICT accelerated the convergence of the four new EU member states with the EU-15 (the case of technological leapfrogging) but decelerated convergence of Romania, Russia, and, to a lesser extent, Bulgaria and Slovakia (the case of a growing digital divide). This divergence was mainly because of the lower quality of the economic and institutional environment, which inhibited the diffusion of ICT. Second, the article shows that ICT has a large potential to increase long-term growth in transition countries. Third, it argues that the use of ICT has an important role in stimulating productivity growth at the industry level and that it offers considerable potential for faster productivity growth in non-ICT-using, “old economy” industries. Realizing this potential, however, will crucially depend on far-reaching structural reforms, business reorganization, investment in human capital, and well-designed public “push strategy.” These lessons are pertinent not only to transition economies, but also to most advanced developing countries.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"3 1","pages":"39-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64556615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-10-01DOI: 10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.55
M. Zennaro, E. Canessa, K. Sreenivasan, A. A. Rehmatullah, R. Cottrell
Data on Internet performance and the analysis of its trend can be useful for decision makers and scientists alike. Such performance measurements are possible using the PingER methodology. We use the data thus obtained to quantify the difference in performance between developed and developing countries, sometimes referred to as the “digital divide.” Motivated by the recent interest of G8 countries in African development, we particularly focus on the African countries.
{"title":"Scientific Measure of Africa's Connectivity","authors":"M. Zennaro, E. Canessa, K. Sreenivasan, A. A. Rehmatullah, R. Cottrell","doi":"10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.55","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/ITID.2006.3.1.55","url":null,"abstract":"Data on Internet performance and the analysis of its trend can be useful for decision makers and scientists alike. Such performance measurements are possible using the PingER methodology. We use the data thus obtained to quantify the difference in performance between developed and developing countries, sometimes referred to as the “digital divide.” Motivated by the recent interest of G8 countries in African development, we particularly focus on the African countries.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"3 1","pages":"55-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64556624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249292
J. P. Singh
What accounts for variations in foreign direct investments (FDI) in emerging telecommunications markets? This article shows that the key to capturing FDI flows is making and enforcing credible commitments both internationally and domestically toward liberalization reform in telecommunications sectors: the differences in such commitments account for FDI variations. The commitments made by emerging markets in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) telecommunications accord are first examined. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis of four important Asian markets seeks to correlate such commitments with FDI flows. The case of China is conceptually and empirically interesting: the country's size, growth rate, and state-led coordination mechanisms create a credible commitment illusion, at least in the short run.
{"title":"FDI Variations in Emerging Markets: The Role of Credible Commitments—With Special Reference to Asia","authors":"J. P. Singh","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249292","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249292","url":null,"abstract":"What accounts for variations in foreign direct investments (FDI) in emerging telecommunications markets? This article shows that the key to capturing FDI flows is making and enforcing credible commitments both internationally and domestically toward liberalization reform in telecommunications sectors: the differences in such commitments account for FDI variations. The commitments made by emerging markets in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) telecommunications accord are first examined. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis of four important Asian markets seeks to correlate such commitments with FDI flows. The case of China is conceptually and empirically interesting: the country's size, growth rate, and state-led coordination mechanisms create a credible commitment illusion, at least in the short run.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"75-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249346
E. J. Wilson, M. Best, D. Kleine
{"title":"Open Access Publishing and the Creative Community","authors":"E. J. Wilson, M. Best, D. Kleine","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249346","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"3-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249328
L. Joia
This paper aims to develop and present a framework that enables the creation and deployment of regional capacity-building networks in e-government. To accomplish this goal, a focus group is used for the creation of real Inter-American Network Capacity-Building in e-government. The findings from this research show that specific hierarchical and professional profiles within public administration deserve differentiated e-government training endeavors; that is, legislators and politicians need to be submitted to awareness initiatives rather than training courses about the potential benefits of e-government. Conversely, senior managers, technicians, and ordinary staff need specific training programs.
{"title":"A Framework for Developing Regional E-Government CapacityBuilding Networks","authors":"L. Joia","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249328","url":null,"abstract":"This paper aims to develop and present a framework that enables the creation and deployment of regional capacity-building networks in e-government. To accomplish this goal, a focus group is used for the creation of real Inter-American Network Capacity-Building in e-government. The findings from this research show that specific hierarchical and professional profiles within public administration deserve differentiated e-government training endeavors; that is, legislators and politicians need to be submitted to awareness initiatives rather than training courses about the potential benefits of e-government. Conversely, senior managers, technicians, and ordinary staff need specific training programs.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"61-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249355
E. J. Wilson
Engaged Scholars and Thoughtful Practitioners: Enhancing Their Dialogue in the Knowledge Society
专业学者和有思想的实践者:在知识社会中加强他们的对话
{"title":"Engaged Scholars and Thoughtful Practitioners: Enhancing Their Dialogue in the Knowledge Society","authors":"E. J. Wilson","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249355","url":null,"abstract":"Engaged Scholars and Thoughtful Practitioners: Enhancing Their Dialogue in the Knowledge Society","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"54 1","pages":"89-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249364
A. Gillwald
Technological innovation and the decreasing costs of wireless and other technologies, combined with progressive policy and regulatory environments, have resulted in the provision of telecommunication services in remote areas thought unserviceable by incumbent telcos in Latin America, Central Europe, and Asia. In line with the increasing number of success stories in other parts of the world, the South African government, as part of the policy of "managed liberalization" of the telecommunications sector, lifted the monopoly provision of telephone services in under-serviced areas by permitting smaller-scale entrants into the telecommunications market.Emerging from the second round of telecommunications policy reform in 2001, following the initial reforms to the sector in 1996, it was anticipated that these special operators would be licensed in 2002. Although licenses were finally granted following several licensing delays in June 2004 to seven applicants (three conditionally) from the ten areas demarcated in the first round, further delays in the final issuing of these licenses meant these licensees were only able to become operational in 2005.With the Ministry of Communications' latest policy directives on further liberalization of the market, which allows for some of the services previously reserved for Under-Serviced Area Licensees (USALs) to be more widely available from February 2005, just prior to the underserviced area licensees coming on stream, the window of opportunity for these small-scale new entrants may have closed.This paper assesses the degree to which policy and regulatory conditions promote the viability of these operators and facilitate their evolution as business and developmental models. Drawing on international experience, the policy and regulatory framework for these licenses is assessed. The paper focuses specifically on other jurisdictions where similar regimes have been introduced as part of a national policy rather than on the wide range of pilot projects deploying innovative technologies that may provide low-cost solutions but which are not scaled up or formally implemented. The key success factors in these jurisdictions are weighed in relation to the sustainability of the under-serviced area operators (often referred to as regional or rural operators in other jurisdictions) under the conditions that exist in South Africa. Finally, it provides some lessons for other developing countries wishing to consider the South African experience.
{"title":"A Closing Window of Opportunity: Under-Serviced Area Licensing in South Africa","authors":"A. Gillwald","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249364","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249364","url":null,"abstract":"Technological innovation and the decreasing costs of wireless and other technologies, combined with progressive policy and regulatory environments, have resulted in the provision of telecommunication services in remote areas thought unserviceable by incumbent telcos in Latin America, Central Europe, and Asia. In line with the increasing number of success stories in other parts of the world, the South African government, as part of the policy of \"managed liberalization\" of the telecommunications sector, lifted the monopoly provision of telephone services in under-serviced areas by permitting smaller-scale entrants into the telecommunications market.Emerging from the second round of telecommunications policy reform in 2001, following the initial reforms to the sector in 1996, it was anticipated that these special operators would be licensed in 2002. Although licenses were finally granted following several licensing delays in June 2004 to seven applicants (three conditionally) from the ten areas demarcated in the first round, further delays in the final issuing of these licenses meant these licensees were only able to become operational in 2005.With the Ministry of Communications' latest policy directives on further liberalization of the market, which allows for some of the services previously reserved for Under-Serviced Area Licensees (USALs) to be more widely available from February 2005, just prior to the underserviced area licensees coming on stream, the window of opportunity for these small-scale new entrants may have closed.This paper assesses the degree to which policy and regulatory conditions promote the viability of these operators and facilitate their evolution as business and developmental models. Drawing on international experience, the policy and regulatory framework for these licenses is assessed. The paper focuses specifically on other jurisdictions where similar regimes have been introduced as part of a national policy rather than on the wide range of pilot projects deploying innovative technologies that may provide low-cost solutions but which are not scaled up or formally implemented. The key success factors in these jurisdictions are weighed in relation to the sustainability of the under-serviced area operators (often referred to as regional or rural operators in other jurisdictions) under the conditions that exist in South Africa. Finally, it provides some lessons for other developing countries wishing to consider the South African experience.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-07-01DOI: 10.1162/154475205775249300
D. Konstadakopulos
This paper discusses the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the development of clusters of small export-orientated enterprises in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam. Using the cluster concept, it argues that the many dormant small-scale industry clusters found in developing countries could be transformed into more vibrant entities through the adoption of ICTs. The penetration of these technologies in the export-oriented and private-enterprise sector in the Delta was found to be quite significant. The paper discusses the implications of the empirical findings and suggests a reconsideration of policy issues concerning the adoption of ICTs to foster Vietnam's economic development.
{"title":"From Public Loudspeakers to the Internet: The Adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Small-Enterprise Clusters in Vietnam","authors":"D. Konstadakopulos","doi":"10.1162/154475205775249300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1162/154475205775249300","url":null,"abstract":"This paper discusses the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the development of clusters of small export-orientated enterprises in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam. Using the cluster concept, it argues that the many dormant small-scale industry clusters found in developing countries could be transformed into more vibrant entities through the adoption of ICTs. The penetration of these technologies in the export-oriented and private-enterprise sector in the Delta was found to be quite significant. The paper discusses the implications of the empirical findings and suggests a reconsideration of policy issues concerning the adoption of ICTs to foster Vietnam's economic development.","PeriodicalId":45625,"journal":{"name":"Information Technologies & International Development","volume":"2 1","pages":"21-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64442424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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