50 INTERNET HAS BILLION The result of the foregoing is that Jamaicans are and will continue to be more connected to each other and to the world. However, with increased connectivity and the growing phenomenon of the Internet of Things (IoT) come increased threats to the daily operations of individuals and businesses alike. In light of estimates indicating that the Internet has approximately 50 billion “things” connected to it, with the number of connections predicted to increase to 13 Quadrillion by the year 20203; Jamaica must be prepared to address these threats if it is to continue to utilize ICTs for economic and social development. CONNECTIONS [APPROXIMATELY] NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE OF ICT BY 2020 IT IS PREDICTED TO 13 INCREASE TO QUADRILLION Children with Internet access at home perform better in school and are betterprotected against online dangers. Figure 2. www.istock.com 9 The Government’s vision with respect to ICT is to create a knowledgebased and educated society which is globally competitive and productive; giving rise to the strategic placement of Jamaica as the key ICT hub within the region’.4 Additionally, the National Development Plan (Vision 2030)5 has as one of its national outcomes a technology enabled society where ICT, as a sector and an enabler of other sectors, is utilized to, among other things, drive productivity and efficiency and unleash the creative potential of Jamaicans. At the centre of Jamaica’s focus on increased use and application of ICT is broadband. Several authoritative and global research studies have clearly established the link between ICT use and GDP growth6. More recently, with broadband being considered critical to economic and social development, more and more studies have focused on elaborating this link. Research undertaken by the World Bank has shown that the development impact of broadband on emerging economies is greater than for high-income countries and that broadband has a potentially higher growth effect than other ICTs, including wireline telephony and mobile telephony7.Additionally, research also suggests that broadband access and broadband speed positively affect household incomes8 and that children with Internet access at home perform better in school and are better-protected against online dangers as they are usually under parental guidance9.Jamaica is positioning itself to benefit from the increased use of ICTs and broadband and therefore notwithstanding potential security threats and the myriad of possible cyber-attacks, it cannot become complacent if it is to reap the derivative economic benefit inherent in utilizing ICTs. Tangible and workable solutions must be found to create a safe environment which engenders confidence in the use of ICTs by both citizens and businesses while enabling creativity and innovation. 3. CISCO 2013 Annual Security Report 4. Government of Jamaica, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy, prepared by the Information and Telecommunications Department, Office of the Prime Minister, March 2011 5. Vision 2030-National Developmental Plan Accessed at http://www.vision2030.gov.jm/ 6. David Dean et al., The Digital Manifesto: How Companies and Countries Can Win in the Digital Economy, Boston Consulting Group, perspective 27 (January 2012). 7. Building Broadband: Strategies and Policies for the Developing World, International Bank for reconstruction and Development/. World Bank, 2010 8. Socioeconomic Effects of Broadband Speed– Ericsson, Arthur D. Little and Chalmers University of Technology, 2013 9. The Broadband Challenge, Broadband Commission for Digital Development, Geneva 2011 National Cyber Security Strategy Government of Jamaica