asia pacific information superhighway (ap-is) · indicators database, accessed june 2015....

IMPROVING REGIONAL BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE

ASIA-PACIFIC INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY

ASIA PACIFIC INFORMATION

SUPERHIGHWAY (AP-IS)

ICT and Development Section

ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division

ESCAP

11 November 2016

20th Meeting of the Regional Interagency Working Group on

Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Bangkok.



Outline:

1. Digital Divide in Asia and the Pacific

2. AP-IS Master Plan and Regional

Cooperation Framework Document

3. WSIS Regional Review

4. APCICT – capacity building

5. ICT for DRR Gateway

6. Way Forward

2



Fixed Broadband

Penetration Rates

3



(1) Digital Divide

4

Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants by income

group, 2000-2015

Source: Produced by ESCAP, based on data sourced from ITU World

Telecommunications/ICT Indicators Database (accessed July 2016).

0

10

20

30

Fix

ed

-Bro

ad

ba

nd

Su

b.

per

10

0 I

nh

ab

ita

nts

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

ESCAP High-Income Eco (Average) ESCAP Low-Income Eco (Average)

ESCAP Upper-Mid-Inc. Eco(Average) ESCAP Lower-Middle-Income Eco (Average)

ESCAP Average

Income level

plays a major

role in

determining

access to

broadband

connectivity



(1) Digital Divide

• There is a strong correlation between the perceptions on

quality of regulations and fixed-broadband subscriptions.

Quality of

Regulation

vs

Access to

Broadband

connectivity

5

Source: Produced by ESCAP, based on data sourced from ITU World Telecommunications/ICT

Indicators Database, accessed June 2015. Regulatory Quality Index sourced from World

Governance Indicators, World Bank.

Note: Estimates for Regulatory Quality ranges between -2 (poor regulatory quality) and +2 (very

good regulatory quality); 95% Confidence Interval shaded in grey.



(1). Digital Divide

6

Online services versus telecommunications infrastructure in North and Central Asia, and South

and South-West Asia in 2008 and 2014

Source: Produced by ESCAP, based on data sourced from the United Nations Public Administration Country Studies/E-Government Development Index

Database (accessed April 2016).

Armenia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Russian Federation

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

0

.2

.4

.6

.8

On

line

Se

rvic

es I

nd

ex

0 .2 .4 .6Telecommunications Infrastructure Index

2008 2014

ESCAP North & Central Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Iran (Islamic Rep. of)

Sri Lanka

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Turkey

.2

.3

.4

.5

.6

.7

On

line

Se

rvic

es I

nd

ex

0 .1 .2 .3 .4Telecommunications Infrastructure Index

2008 2014

ESCAP South & South-West Asia

Missed

Opportunities –

ICT

infrastructure in

place, but

online services

lacking…



(1) Digital Divide

7

Online services versus telecommunications infrastructure in South-East Asia and developing countries in

the Pacific in 2008 and 2014

Source: Produced by ESCAP, based on data sourced from the United Nations Public Administration Country Studies/E-Government Development Index Database (accessed

April 2016).



The Asia-Pacific Information

Superhighway initiative aims to

increase the availability and

affordability of broadband Internet

across Asia and the Pacific, by

strengthening the underlying Internet

infrastructure in the region.

8

• Promote terrestrial and submarine fibre-optic connectivity

• Provide a regional intergovernmental platform focusing on the missing fibre-optic links between ESCAP countries



9

FOUR PILLARS

(2) Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway




• AP-IS Master Plan (MP) and Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF) endorsed by ESCAP member states during the 1st meeting of the CICTSTI (5-7 Oct 2016)

• AP-IS MP and RCF outline the principles, deliverables, timeline and financing mechanisms towards developing regional broadband networks to bridge broadband divide and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

10



(2). Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway

AP-IS Initiatives

Expansion of Reg. backbone

networks

Est. of IXPs

Social and Economic

impact of ICT on people

Capacity building

ICT infrastructure resilience

Policy and Regulations for

AP-IS funding platform

11

AP-IS Master Plan seven initiatives



(2). Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway

• The AP-IS Master Plan has seven initiatives:

• (1) Identification and promote the expansion of regional backbone networks;

• (2) Promote the establishment of a sufficient number of Internet exchange points at the national and sub-regional levels to prevent Internet traffic tromboning, decrease transit costs and improve service quality;

• (3) Coordinate regional studies on the impact of ICT connectivity on social and economic aspects of people;

12




• (4) Promote ICT infrastructure resilience (through diversification of fibre-optic routes, increase redundancy through increasing the number of cables/satellite connects, and cybersecurity preparedness );

• (5) Promote policy and regulations for inclusive broadband initiatives;

• (6) Capacity-building (sharing of good practices and lessons learned at the regional level to ensure that increased connectivity is utilised for productive use); and

• (7) formulation of an Asia-Pacific information superhighway funding platform (PPP).

13



• ESCAP Resolution 72/10, ‘Regional review of the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society action lines (E/ESCAP/RES/72/10)’

• ESCAP-ITU WSIS Regional Review Meeting, 4 October 2016, Bangkok.

• Inputs from the regional review will be consolidated by UNCTAD (Secretariat of CSTD) in preparation of its report to the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) (as per ECOSOC resolutions 2006/46 & 2016/22).

14

(3) WSIS Regional Review



(3) WSIS Regional Review Recognition of the importance of ICT for development to

address the Digital Divide.

Objectives: (1). To build an inclusive information society;

(2). To put the potential of knowledge and ICT at the

service of development;

(3). To promote the use of ICT for the achievement of

internationally agreed development goals (Sustainable

Development Goals – SDG); and

(4). To address new challenges of the information society

(national, regional and international levels).

15



Lessons learned from past World Summit on the

Information Society implementation

• Widening digital divide in Asia and the Pacific

• Need for appropriate financing mechanisms for

developing the information society

• Multi-stakeholder approach

• Challenges in measuring WSIS targets/action lines

(including data collection and availability and how to

measure the impact of ICT on economic growth)

• Mainstreaming of ICT into national strategic development

policies

16

(3). WSIS Regional Review



Issues for Consideration by the Committee • The role of the Asia-Pacific information superhighway

initiative is critical towards narrowing the digital divide in

Asia and the Pacific.

• Request the WSIS action line facilitators to contribute to

the regional review, in order to enhance information-

sharing and inter-agency collaboration.

• Member countries are encouraged to enhance national-

level efforts through revitalizing national World Summit

committees

17

(3). WSIS Regional Review



18

Asian and Pacific Training

Centre for Information and

Communication Technology

for Development

A Regional Institute of

UN-ESCAP

Established in June

2006. Located in

Incheon, ROK

Mission:

Build the human and institutional capacity of ESCAP members

States in using ICT for sustainable development

(4). APCICT – Capacity building



19

Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders

To equip civil servants with essential knowledge and skills to fully leverage

opportunities presented by ICTs to achieve sustainable socio-economic development

Primer Series on ICTD for Youth

To impart key ICTD knowledge to students and youth who are the leaders of tomorrow

Women ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI)

To promote ICT-enabled women entrepreneurship

APCICT Flagship ICT Human Capacity Development Programmes




20

Consists of an 11-module ICTD curriculum covering

basic to advanced topics on ICT for development

The Academy is utilized in 35 countries in Asia and

the Pacific and institutionalized in civil service human

resource development frameworks

The programme is delivered through face-to-face

training and online via the APCICT Virtual Academy

(AVA)





21

APCICT is enhancing the Academy Programme by strengthening the

linkage to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Updating of existing Academy Modules

New content development (e.g. Data for Smart Government)

APCICT continues to promote and institutionalize the Academy in

member States by building pool of national resource persons

(through Training of Trainers) and supporting partners in Academy

customization and localization





22

Aims to expand the coverage of ICTD

education in university curricula

Includes ICTD learning resources (5

Primer Series Issues) that are utilized by

instructors/professors in over 150

universities in the region

Provides opportunities for students to

implement ICT-based projects and

contribute to community development

(Engaged Learning)





23

APCICT is enhancing the Primer Series to strengthen the

linkage to the Sustainable Development Goals

APCICT continues to promote the Primer Series to institutions

of higher learning in the region through Training of Trainers

as well as Primer customization and localization

APCICT is promoting and expanding partnerships with

colleges and universities to use the Engaged Learning

approach





24

WIFI aims to strengthen capacity of:

Current and potential women entrepreneurs to utilize information

and communication technologies in support of their businesses

Government leaders and policymakers to create an enabling

environment for ICT-empowered women entrepreneurship

Includes a training programme in two tracks: women

entrepreneurs and policymakers





25

WIFI Regional Launch held on 9 June 2016 in Incheon, Republic of

Korea; strong interest from member States to adopt the WIFI

programme

Sri Lanka was the first country to launch WIFI (September 2016), to

be followed by Cambodia (December 2016) and the Philippines

(March 2017)

APCICT to continue the roll-out and institutionalization of the WIFI

programme at the sub-regional and national levels in 2017





(5). ICT & DRR Gateway

26

Providing policymakers and

relevant stakeholders with an

accessible gateway containing

a spectrum of resources with

regard to Information and

Communications Technology

and Disaster Risk Reduction



The ICT & DRR Gateway provides:

27

News & Publications Hazard Alert Maps

E-Learning & Tools Online Communities

News updates, events

and publications with

regard to ICT & DRR

Latest hazard information

provided through alerts

and a variety of maps

Links to e-learning

platforms and other

relevant resources

Overview of online

communities fostering

stakeholder dialogue




Up-to-date information from a wide spectrum

of sources with regard to ICT & DRR

28

As well as national ICT Ministries in the Asia-Pacific region




Examples of various News & Resources for ICT Policymakers

29

News from national ICT Ministries Publications from relevant organizations

ICT-related news from the web Expert interviews on relevant ICT topics

Philippines

“Philippines jumps to 71st spot

in the 2016 eGDI rankings”

New Zealand

“Telco Act gearing up for 21st

Century upgrade”

ITU

“How can AI-powered cars

help make cities smarter?”

APCICT

“Women and ICT Frontier

Initiative (WIFI) in Pakistan”

“Carrier-neutral provider revenues grow

12% in 2Q16”

“5G prospects: Key capabilities to unlock

digital opportunities”

“Sharp innovation gap seen between

advanced, emerging Asia”

Mr. Rohan Samarajiva

LIRNEasia

Mr. Stephen Sheehan

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity




Navigate to the ICT & DRR Gateway

30

Access the Gateway on

www.drrgateway.net




(6) Plan for 2017

• AP-IS implementation of seven initiatives (2016-

2018), including research and analysis

• First AP-IS Steering Committee meeting,

tentatively scheduled for September 2017,

Dhaka, Bangladesh

• WSIS Regional Review – Explore inter-agency

Working Group on ICT collaboration – future

activities (next 12 months)

• Capacity development workshops

31



32

Thank you!

Email: [email protected]

Sources: ESCAP (2016), State of ICT 2016 in Asia and the Pacific’, via link:

http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/State%20of%20ICT%20in%20Asia%20a

nd%20the%20Pacific%202016.pdf

asia pacific information superhighway (ap-is) · indicators database, accessed june 2015....

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