1. Bridging the Digital Divide
By Katherine Savanh
Advisor: Professor Cristin McVey
Photo Courtesy of:
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Telephone system are outdated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