Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Asia-Pacific dimension of the World Summit on the Information Society: a review

1. Background

2. World Summit phases

3. Regional preparation for the Geneva phase

4. Regional preparation for the Tunis phase

ICT indicators

1. Availability and analysis of ICT indices in the Asian and Pacific region

2. The Digital Access Index

3. The Networked Readiness Index

4. Conclusions and the way forward

Asia-Pacific connectivity: the current situation and prognosis

1. Abstract

2. Executive summary

(a) Connected economies

(b) Partially connected economies

(c) Least-connected economies

3. Introduction

4. Connectivity: various perspectives

(a) Raw connectivity

(b) Basic product and service connectivity

(c) Policymakers’ connectivity

(d) Ultimate users’ connectivity

5. The next steps: enhancing raw, basic product and service, policymakers’ and ultimate users’ connectivity

6. Build-out forecast: continuation of recent trends and some proactive initiatives

7. Strategies toward filling gaps in ultimate users’ connectivity

8. Summary and conclusions

References

Appendix

Strategic planning and implementation of e-government services for the poor

1. Introduction

2. What is e-government?

3. What is e-government for the poor?

4. E-government services and applications for the poor

4.1 Community e-centres: a mechanism for the delivery of e-government services

5. Strategic planning and implementation of e-government for the poor

5.1. Planning phases of e-government services for the poor: anchoring e-government in a country’s development agenda

5.2. Steps for strategic planning and implementation of e-government with stakeholders’ participation

6. Conclusions and recommendations

References

Mainstreaming information and communication technologies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals: community e-centres a viable option

1. Introduction

2. ICT and the Millennium Development Goals

3. ICT and poverty

4. ICT and education

5. ICT and health

6. ICT and the environment

7. ICT and gender

8. Community e-centres: ICT for rural communities

9. Conclusions

Use of space technology for poverty alleviation: issues and perspectives for expert consultation

1. Introduction

2. Space for poverty alleviation: developments and trends

(a) Satellite communications: affordable broadband connectivity to transcend “the last mile” problem

(b) Remote sensing and geographic information systems: fueling improved information products and services for decision makers and the poor

3. Role players: changing domains

(a) Satcom

(b) Remote sensing

(c) Geographic information systems

4. Issues and perspectives

(a) Satellite communications, alleviating digital divides and poverty

(b) The changing face of distance education through satcom

(c) Health-care for the rural poor and telehealth

(d) Satcom-based community teleservice centres for the poor

(e) Natural resources management for poverty alleviation: contributions from remote sensing and GIS

(f) “Poverty mapping” and disaggregation aspects of poverty: the role of remote sensing and GIS

(g) Disaster reduction, poverty alleviation and space applications

5. Suggested historic framework: space technology for poverty alleviation in Asia and the Pacific