Panel 2: Measuring ICT in the Developing World - The ‘Digital Divide’ :Panel 2: Measuring ICT in the Developing World - The ‘Digital Divide’ Michael Minges Senior Market Analyst Mis-measurement of ICT A Panel Conference 1 October 2004


Mis-measurement :Mis-measurement Wrong concepts—often used for political reasons Poor data—often because not available for developing nations Bad data—bad surveys Incomparable data—what do we want to measure? Moving target—ICT sector changes so often Press—good to disseminate information but sometimes make mistakes


Slide 3:“HALF THE WORLD HASN'T MADE A CALL - YEAH RIGHT”


Statistical Gap Makes Digital Divide Hard To Assess, Study Says :Statistical Gap Makes Digital Divide Hard To Assess, Study Says A shortage of reliable statistics on Internet use poses a challenge to assessing the extent of the digital divide between and within the world's rich and poor nations, the International Telecommunication Union said in a report released yesterday ahead of next week's global summit on the technology gap. Friday, December 5, 2003


“A close link exists between the digital and statistical divide” :“A close link exists between the digital and statistical divide” 16% 70% 40% 5%


U.N. Reports Flawed Statistics on Web Use :U.N. Reports Flawed Statistics on Web Use Friday December 5, 2003 GENEVA (AP) - The extent of the technology gap between richer and poorer nations may be smaller than believed because of flawed statistics on Internet use, the U.N. communications agency said Thursday. The annual study by the International Telecommunication Union came a week before the start of the agency-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society, a gathering of world leaders in Geneva. ``Everyone's going to be talking about the digital divide, and how massive it is,'' said Michael Minges, co-author of the study. ``Is the digital divide as big as we think? The answer is `No.'''


Over-surveyedInternet user surveys in Europe :Over-surveyedInternet user surveys in Europe Internet users as % of 14/15/16+ population, 2002 NSO = National Statistics Office


The shrinking digital divide?Internet users per 100 inhabitants :The shrinking digital divide?Internet users per 100 inhabitants


What is an Internet user? :What is an Internet user? Source: M. Minges, “Measuring mobile Internet”.


Korea leads in high-speed mobile networks: report :Korea leads in high-speed mobile networks: report 2004.09.09 BUSAN - Korea leads countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the use of high-speed mobile networks, with 84.5 percent of mobile subscribers accessing the services, according to a new report from Telecommunications Management Group Inc., a U.S.-based consultancy. "Ironically, the high use of SMS in these countries, may actually be a barrier to more advanced multimedia applications. Operators are making significant revenue from text messaging in countries where SMS is booming, such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The downside is that it makes them reluctant to invest in faster networks and multimedia content," said Michael Minges, senior market analyst at TMG.


The mobile Internet digital divide… :The mobile Internet digital divide… Source: TMG. …is worse than the conventional digital divide


Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics :Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics


Digital Access IndexTop 10 :Digital Access IndexTop 10


Reversal of fortune :Reversal of fortune


NZ 'losing race' on broadband :Telecommunications analyst Paul Budde says New Zealand is missing a $2 billion growth opportunity through its failure to fully embrace broadband. An International Telecommunications Union (ITU) study of 178 economies which found New Zealand dropped from 12th to 21st in access to information and communications technology is clear evidence that New Zealand's strategies are not working, Budde said. But Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe said NZ was pushed back in the rankings by Asian tiger economies, and the report was not a cause for panic. Cunliffe said he would go to Geneva next month for the UN summit on the information society, and visit Korea on the way back to see how that country had jumped to number 4 in the ITU rankings. NZ 'losing race' on broadband 25.11.2003


Slide 16:Friday, Nov 21, 2003 `Tech power' India gets poor billing — Just four ranks away from ITU's `Low Access' category