Financing a Forward-Looking Internet for All
This report makes the case that governments should think beyond closing the digital divide to investing in the development of a robust digital ecosystem that can facilitate participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This paper recognizes that the traditional binary view of connected versus unconnected individuals is nuanced. National internet ecosystems are at different levels of maturity, measured not just by the number of users but also by data throughput, quality of service and latency. Higher maturity levels come with economic benefits but also demand significant investments. To address this, perspectives are included on alternative financing models designed to make such investments more practical.
This report makes the case that governments should think beyond closing the digital divide to investing in the development of a robust digital ecosystem that can facilitate participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This paper recognizes that the traditional binary view of connected versus unconnected individuals is nuanced. National internet ecosystems are at different levels of maturity, measured not just by the number of users but also by data throughput, quality of service and latency. Higher maturity levels come with economic benefits but also demand significant investments. To address this, perspectives are included on alternative financing models designed to make such investments more practical.