Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Their Contribution to the National Development T he United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines2 information and communication technologies (ICTs) as “basically information handling tools—a varied set of goods, applications and services that are used to produce, store, process, distribute and exchange information. They include the ‘old’ ICTs of radio, television and telephone, and the ‘new’ ICTs of computers, satellite and wireless technology and the internet.” ICTs also include various applications and services provided using computing devices, including office productivity software (such as MS Office), electronic mail, databases, news sites, electronic entertainment (such as video and audio content), social networking applications (such as Facebook), voice-over-internet applications (e.g., Skype), video games etc. ICTs contribute to the social and economic development by enabling access to and exchange of information and services anywhere and anytime, together with rapid processing and vast storage of such information. Thereby ICTs make the provision of public and private services, including education and professional development, health information and services, government services, entertainment, information services, professional services and commerce in general, much more effective, efficient, accessible and affordable. They ICTs contribute to the social and economic development by enabling access to and exchange of information and services anywhere and anytime, together with rapid processing and vast storage of such information.” also enhance access to markets, disaster management, as well as democratic participation. ICTs also provide more cost efficient and effective ways to preserve and promote local culture. Costs of economic and social activities are decreased, when ICTs replace transport and postal services. Furthermore, they open new previously non-existent business opportunities (such as ICT services, business process outsourcing, and content-related businesses). ICTs’ contribution to the national development has been a subject of numerous studies. A widely cited research3, represented in the graph below, demonstrates that ICTs, in particular fast access to the Internet, accelerates economic growth, especially in less developed countries. 2 UNDP Evaluation Office (2011). UNDP Essentials No. 5. 3 Qiang (2009) as referred to in World Bank (2009). Information and Communications for Development 2009. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Their Contribution to the National Development 11