Abstract:
The development of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) is shaping a new panorama worldwide. Not only are they transforming sectors such as government, education or health but also, they are favoring the economic growth and the social inclusion of the different social strata. There is a crucial element that explains the ICTs today and that is Broadband, the true catalyzer for social and economic development. Broadband and ICTs are therefore concepts that gain their meaning when considered together. Unfortunately, the degree of Broadband development in the world is not equal and there exists, in many economies, a Digital Divide in terms of access (supply), adoption and usage (demand). Nonetheless, most of the governments around the world are aware of the importance of bridging The Digital Divide for their population thanks to the benefits that Broadband brings. According to a study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank, countries in Latin-America and the Caribbean (LAC) where the Broadband penetration has increased by 10% have experienced an average increase of 3.2% in their GDP, and 2.6 percentage points increase in their productivityi. Similarly, the World Bankii concluded that a 10% increase in basic Broadband penetration enlarged GDP growth by an additional 1.21% when looking at 66 high-income countries; and by 1.38% in the remaining 120 low- and middle-income countries. In this challenging effort, the complexity of the Broadband requires it to be conceived as an ecosystem that goes beyond pure connectivity. Four key elements are necessary to be considered when analyzing Broadband: (1) infrastructure (access), (2) applications and digital training (usage), (3) regulatory frameworks (access and adoption), and (4) strategic public policies (access and adoption)
