Mobile broadband over smart phones and tablets has become the fastest-growing segment of the global ICT market, according to the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) flagship annual report, "Measuring the Information Society 2013".
New figures released show buoyant global demand for information and communication
technology products and services, steadily declining prices for both cellular and broadband services, and unprecedented growth in 3G uptake.
By year-end, there will be 6.8 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions - almost as many as there are people on the planet - according to the ITU report.
An estimated 2.7 billion people will also be connected to the Internet, though speeds and prices vary widely, both across and within regions.
Mobile broadband connections over 3G and 3G+ networks are growing at an average annual rate of 40 per cent, equating to 2.1 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions and a global penetration rate of almost 30 per cent. Almost 50 per cent of all people worldwide are now covered by a 3G network.
ICT Development Index rankings
New data from the 2013 edition of "Measuring the Information Society" reveal South Korea leads the world in terms of overall ICT development for the third consecutive year, followed closely by Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and Norway.
The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Hong Kong also rank in the top 10, with the UK nudging into the group from 11th position last year.
ITU's "ICT Development Index" (IDI) ranks 157 countries and territories according to their level of ICT access, use and skills, and compares 2011 and 2012 scores. It is widely recognised by governments, UN agencies and industry as the most accurate and impartial measure of overall national ICT development.
All those in the IDI top 30 are high-income economies, underlining the strong link between income and ICT progress.
There are large differences between developed and developing countries, with IDI values on average twice as high in the developed world compared with developing countries.
The report identifies a group of "most dynamic countries", which have recorded above-average improvements in their IDI rank or value over the past 12 months.
These include, in order of most improved: the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Barbados, Seychelles, Belarus, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Zambia, Australia, Bangladesh, Oman and Zimbabwe.
The report also identifies those with the lowest IDI levels - the so-called "least connected countries" (LCCs).
Home to 2.4 billion people - one-third of the world's total population - the LCCs are also the countries that could potentially derive great benefits from better access to and use of ICT in areas such as health, education and employment.
"This year's IDI figures show much reason for optimism, with governments clearly prioritising ICT as a major lever of socio-economic growth, resulting in better access and lower prices," said ITU secretary-general Hamadoun I Touré.
"Our most pressing challenge is to identify ways to enable those countries which are still struggling to connect their populations to deploy the networks and services that will help lift them out of poverty," said the UN agency chief.
Source: The Nation
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