Bridging the Digital Divide By Katherine Savanh ksavanh@ucsd.edu Advisor: Professor Cristin McVey cmcvey@dss.ucsd.edu Photo Courtesy of: www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/CYPInternal.asp?NodeID=38453, www.dw-world.de/dw/image/detail/1,1599,1535495_1,00.html, www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/EPS.html, http://borgenproject.org/Pictures.html, www.wsis-cs.org/africa/whatis.shtml, www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2120/stories/20041008001405500.htm Problems in Africa: Poverty Inadequacy in electron grid Transport network inadequacy Telephone system are outdated State own monopolies Use open source software Bandwidth cost 10 times more than the US Program Promote internet use: Global Classmates Program Technology Communication Program YTF= Youth for Technological Foundation African Connection Project Potential Ideas for Funding DSF 1 US penny per international communication $2 per purchase of a personal computer $2 per purchase of a software US penny per piece of network equipment US penny per computer game $1 per purchase of a cell phone EDUCATION INTERNET CAFE Information and Technology Benefits Education Economics growth E-banking Flow of information Global campaigns President of Senegal, Abdoulay Wade proposed the DSFund in Dec 2003 at the first WSIS conference Foreign companies and international countries help aid Africa: USAID SITA United Nations Development Program Africa Telecommunication Union Carnegie Corporation Ford Foundation McArthur Foundation Cisco WSIS-Digital Solidarity Fund How the fund will be used 60% for least-developed countries 30% for other developing countries 10% for economies in transition Financial Resource’s Focus ICT capacity-building programs, materials, tools, educational funding and specialized training Regional backbone infrastructure Provide Internet access at affordable price