Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News:
This is coming as Nigeria’s fixed broadband penetration data
was missing in the report, while the mobile penetration stood at 10.2 per cent,
whereas households with internet penetration was ranked 9.1 per cent.
According to the latest country-by-country state of
broadband access globally, made available to DigitalSENSE Business News by
the United Nations (UN) Broadband Commission revealed that Broadband has gone
wireless, lamenting however, that poorer countries may be left behind.
The State of Broadband is a unique global snapshot of
broadband network access and affordability, with country-by country data
measuring broadband access against the four key targets set by the 60 members
of the Broadband Commission in 2011.
DigitalSENSE
Business News also gathered that aside Korea leading with 97 per cent in
household broadband penetration, Switzerland comes top in the world’s fixed
broadband subscriptions per capita, at over 40 per cent.
Equally, by comparison, the Commission confirmed that the United
States (US) ranks 24th in terms of household broadband penetration, and 20th in
the world for fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, just behind Finland and
ahead of Japan.
In terms of Internet use, there are now more than 70
countries where over 50 per cent of the population is online. The top ten
countries for Internet use are all located in Europe, with the exception of New
Zealand (8th) and Qatar (10th), even as Nigeria was ranked 110.
Commenting, ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, who
serves as co-Vice Chair of the Commission with UNESCO Director-General Irina
Bokova, noted that the new analysis in this year’s report shows progress in
broadband availability, but the world must not lose sight of those who are
being left behind.
“While more and more people are coming online, over 90 per
cent of people in the world’s 49 Least Developed Countries remain totally
unconnected. Internet – and particularly broadband Internet – has become a key
tool for social and economic development, and needs to be prioritized, even in
the world’s poorest nations. Technology combined with relevant content and
services can help us bridge urgent development gaps in areas like health,
education, environmental management and gender empowerment,” he enthused.
For UNESCO’s Irina Bokova, the global roll-out of broadband
carries vast potential to enhance learning opportunities, to facilitate the
exchange of information, and to increase access to content that is
linguistically and culturally diverse.
“It can widen access to learning, enhance its quality and
empower men and women, girls and boys, with new skills and opportunities. But this does not happen by itself – it
requires leadership, planning and action,” Bokova declared.
Commission’s Co-Chair Carlos Slim Helú said the Millennium
Development Goals should be a strong partnership to direct actions at the
national and international levels, and they should be a shared responsibility.
“It is certain that broadband can make a tremendous contribution
towards their attainment,” Helu said.
Additionally, the Co-Chair, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda,
points out that beyond 2015, the way forward should be to unleash the smart use
of broadband to enhance delivery of services in education, health care, banking
and other sectors.
“Broadband should also empower young people in the
developing world to innovate and be more competitive globally," he said.
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
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