Communications & IT

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) provide a wealth of opportunities to Commonwealth countries; from raising the standards of education and improving pre and neo-natal healthcare, to the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015. This section examines various recommendations and existing schemes to bridge the digital divide across the 53 Commonwealth states. Though the uptake of mobile phones and internet increases rapidly each year, many villages and rural communities within Commonwealth countries remain unconnected, and therefore are not yet benefitting from the potential of ICTs to stimulate economic growth, disseminate information and subsequently raise the standards of living.